Saturday, July 25, 2015

Welcome and thank you to Deb Randich!

It is a big job to keep the exhibition open and looking good, as well as organising our volunteer roster. I am delighted that Deb Randich has now taken on the volunteer coordination role. Deb's heritage is Maltese and she feels the exhibition touches on the difficulties her family encountered when settling in a new land. The migrant experience is universal.
If anyone is interested in finding out more about volunteering, please contact us. We can always do with more friendly faces to greet our visitors and we promise you, volunteering with us is fun.

Beverley Brown remembers good times as Camp Kindergarten Teacher

Beverley Brown nee Bourke points at herself on the photo which features prominently in our advertising. The photo shows Beverley walking across the kindergarten grounds holding hands with a row of migrant children in her care. Beverley said she loved the work and formed a close connection to the families whose offspring she looked after. "When I got married and left the job, I was showered with beautiful gifts." "Looking back today my years of work at the camp bring so many happy memories. I loved the job. Townsfolk would occasionally say "How can you do that sort of work, how can you put up with them (the migrant children). But I just loved the privilege of teaching them, they were a joy."

Introducing our 2015 Major Sponsors

Thannk you so much to Anne and Linsday Thomas whose donation means that we can finish reprinting all photos on archival paper, which will now last us up to 5 years. Behind us is a sample of newly updated photos, and you can see how fantastically crisp and clear they look.

We would also like to thank Rotary for their generous sponsorship, which took care of the first half of the exhibition reprints. A wonderful gesture towards commemorating Benalla's migrant past.

Our continued support by the Benalla Lakeside Craft and Farmers Market is also most appreciated.