This is a story about, Museum Mary, and why, she has spent over 35,000 hours, volunteering at the Mareeba Heritage Museum, serving our community, as the Museum Curator, since 1995.
Mary writes, I have always been interested in local history, and when I worked at, Saint Thomas School, for 27 years, I prepared all the local history lessons. I also recorded many interviews, with elderly people.
Then I started to think, that I needed some back up, to support my knowledge. I completed, an Australian and Local History course, by correspondence. This took me three years, and I finished with an Associate Diploma.
After completing my Diploma, I co-authored three local history books, one which is sold in our gift shop, titled, 'Street Names of Mareeba'.
When I retired from school, my history collection, came with me, and we started, the Mareeba Historical Society.
When the Mareeba Heritage Museum was built in 1995, the Historical Society was asked, to operate the Visitor Information Centre, and set up the Museum.
There was a Manager, and an Assistant, who looked after the Visitor Centre, and a Volunteer team, who set up the Museum.
We received some artefacts on loan, from the Rodeo Museum, which they opened only when the Rodeo was held. Later, the artefacts were donated to the Museum permanently, which was an enormous help.
Museums provide an insight into the history of humankind, and every artefact has a story to tell, and therefore, each artefact, should be dispayed in a relevant setting.
I have only visited a few museums in my life, but never walked away with much enthusiasm. At the time, many of the artefacts, were spread out on tables, or shelves, or in glass cases.
As the Museum Curator, I wanted our Museum, to be enjoyed by children, as well as adults, and incorporated interactive objects within our exhibits. As the years passed, I felt a lighter touch was needed to also provide, amusement and laughter.
2020 was a very special year for us. Whilst the world, brought in a new decade, we prepared to celebrate 25 years, serving our Mareeba community, in culture, heritage, and tourism, since 1995.
The milestone marked a success story, made possible by determined, key volunteers, staff, community members, customers, local government and stakeholders.
Our complete story, is greater than any individual accomplishment, and a Board of Memories was unveiled, to highlight 25 years of projects, and to acknowledge, board members, volunteers, and staff, that played a part in this great Mareeba success story.
'It’s remarkable to think that the Centre has been in existence for 25 years and that it continues to forge ahead. The stories and artefacts we collect at the Museum are the stepping stones of Mareeba’s past that leads to the future'.
I am blessed, to be Mareeba's Museum Curator, and to have spent many years of my life, collecting, creating, and telling local history stories.
