The Huon and Kingborough History and Museum Network Inc hosted an exhibition of displays from their member groups at the Kingborough Community Hub from Tuesday, October 7 to Sunday, October 12.
The network was formed approximately 17 months ago, combining more than 300 volunteers from 10 history and museum groups scattered across the Kingborough and Huon municipalities.
Peter Horobin and Sheila Shewry, who both volunteer at the Channel Museum, were on the door when the Kingborough Chronicle editor visited the exhibition last Wednesday.
Peter originally hails from Western Australia and Sheila from Canada, but both have fallen in love with Tasmania and its passion for local history.
“The conversations Tasmanians can have around the dinner table trace back generations,” Peter said, recalling the time he visited Michele Mason down in Middleton, who shared her memories about her parents running the Woodbridge Village Store for 50 years.
Peter and Sheila were more than happy to lend their services to the exhibition, which featured an array of artefacts and photos from various history and museum groups.
There was also a conference on Saturday, October 11 with six guest speakers discussing topics ranging from the physical preservation of artefacts to using the web-based system eHive to digitally manage museum collections.
“This is our first exhibition as a network but we’re looking to offer more opportunities like this,” Sheila said.
“This will hopefully become an annual event.”
While the exhibition drew in a decent crowd, with approximately 75 people walking through the doors within the first two days, the museum and history groups are on the lookout for more volunteers.
“More volunteers are always needed to help care for the objects and collate the information about the large area of the two municipalities,” Huon and Kingborough History and Museum Network Inc. President Beth Bartlett said.
Peter Horobin pointed out that while there was a Blackmans Bay display on show at the exhibition, there is no established Blackmans Bay history group.
Rather, the photos at the exhibition were provided by individuals.
Sheila Shewry said the network is interested in getting more young people involved in local history groups, but that working age individuals are a difficult demographic to attract.
“Volunteering?” Sheila quipped.
“I would have said ‘What’s that?’ when I was younger.”
Peter and Sheila acknowledged that it is difficult for working age individuals to find the extra time to volunteer.
“It’s up to us to make ourselves more relevant for them,” Peter said.
This is one of the key purposes outlined in the network’s constitution, to foster “public awareness of and interest in the history of the Huon and Kingborough municipalities.”
There are currently 10 history and museum groups who have formed the network, with the hope that more will follow.
The current groups are: Bruny Island Historical Society, Channel Museum, Cygnet Living History Museum, Dover Museum and Gallery, Franklin History Group Inc., Friends of Bruny Island Quarantine Station, Geeveston Archives & Historical Society, Ida Bay Railway Preservation Society, South Channel Ratepayers Association and Upper Huon History Group.
