Winner

Fassifern District Historical Society Inc.
War Memories including C.W.A. involvement

Fassifern is located in the Scenic Rim in south-east Queensland, approximately 90 kms from Brisbane.

The Museum consists of a number of buildings, including the Frazerview School, Templin State School buildings, and Aratula C.W.A. building, gifted in 2013. When the Scenic Rim Regional Council planned a War Stories in Our Town program for the Anzac commemorations, the Museum’s committee applied for a grant to refurbish the Frazerview building. Through hard work and dedication of the volunteer members, and a commitment to improve the Museum’s standards, renovations commenced and the War Memories Galleries was opened in May 2015. During this time a Junior Member, a local Year 9 student, decided to create an entry to the Premier’s Anzac Award based on a selection from the Museum’s collection. He was successful and was awarded a trip to Gallipoli and France, and has since been awarded the Scenic Rim’s Junior Cultural Award.

During these activities, the Museum committee decided to recognise the contribution of the C.W.A. to the war effort by moving the Aratula C.W.A. building to the Museum. With little or no budget, the committee was overwhelmed by community support with offers of volunteer labour, materials, and fundraising. The building was completed in July 2016, and has since seen an increase in the Museum’s visitor numbers; approaches for a number of research and publishing projects; and an increased feeling of ownership by the community.

Finalist

Gladstone Maritime History Society Inc. (Gladstone Maritime Museum)
Acquisition of Fremantle Class Patrol Boat ‘HMAS Gladstone’ and its Display 

The Gladstone Maritime History Society Inc. was formed in 1989 and operates the Gladstone Maritime Museum to preserve, maintain and display items of Gladstone’s maritime history.

The Society committee had a long-term target to obtain the vessel HMAS Gladstone for display in its namesake City when it was decommissioned from the Royal Australian Navy. When advice of an imminent decommission was received, the Society applied to the disposal authority to obtain the vessel. The Committee has to undertake a substantial amount of preparation for the application including approval of a display site, preparing a comprehensive display plan, and demonstrating it had the capability to set up and maintain the vessel for display – a significant workload for a volunteer organisation. The application was successful, and the HMAS Gladstone was handed over to the City of Gladstone, with Gladstone Maritime Museum as its custodian.

The Society had to persevere through a major upgrade to the designated display site, which caused several years’ delay, but with the hard work of the volunteers and the support of many organisations and individuals it officially opened in September. The Society now conducts tours of the vessel and receives cruise ship visits, and has attracted new volunteer members interested in researching the HMAS Gladstone.