The military section of the Coalfields Museum has been given a major makeover.
A group of the museum’s volunteers, under the guidance of committee member Hamish Pipe, recently moved the display into a new area within the museum.
Museum committee president Joe Italiano said the museum’s military section makeover had been ‘quite profound’.
“This section of our collection always attracts a lot of attention and we are thrilled with the result of this latest work,” he said.
Mr Italiano said items previously ‘hidden away’ in the collection had been given greater prominence, making the display more appealing.
Highlights of the display include an Egyptian silk tapestry, believed to be one of only two or three in Australia, and a Battle of Long Tan memorial donated recently to the museum by well-known local resident Les Carroll.
The display also features Victoria Cross winner Martin O’Meara, an Irish-born Australian from Collie. The Victoria Cross is the highest award for gallantry that can be awarded to those who serve in the various Commonwealth forces.
Plaques honouring Collie soldiers who died at war cover much of the wall space in the display.
These plaques were in the past displayed in the gardens at Soldiers Park
The work completed in the military section is part of on-going work to improve the appeal of the museum.
Mr Italiano said volunteers were now focusing attention on improving the sports section of the museum.
The upgrade to the museum’s military section is the first major work completed by the museum’s new management group.
The Coalfields Museum and Historical Research Centre (Inc.) officially took over management of the museum from Collie Shire council’s Museum Transition Committee last month.
The changeover in management came exactly 12 months after the transition committee reopened the museum.
Anyone who would like to become a member of the museum can obtain a nomination form at the museum.
The annual fee is $10, which includes free museum entry.
The museum is open five days a week – from Thursday to Monday, inclusive – between 9 am and 3 pm.
