The Brumby Labor Government has recognised Western district volunteers for their work preserving the history of the local dairy farming industry.
Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP thanked six volunteers who have catalogued and documented the collection, held at Cheese World Museum, on the establishment of the Warrnambool Cheese and Butter factory.
“The Brumby Labor Government is taking action to support volunteers across Victoria by providing more than $1.7 million over four years for Heritagecare as part of its strategy Victoria’s Heritage: Strengthening our Communities,” Ms Tierney said.
“This project in Allansford is a fantastic example of what this strategy can achieve and will assist the Museum to better manage and care for the collection and tell the story of the districts’ dairy industry.
“The volunteers – Barbara McLeod, Betty Wickham, Graeme McLeod, Laurie Gunnulson, Marion Treweek and Rosemary Isaac – have done a fantastic job cataloguing photographs and objects held by the Museum, enhancing displays and interpretation as well as conservation and restoration work.”
Ms Tierney also presented the volunteers with certificates to recognise their hard work during the past 18 months.
Planning Minister Justin Madden said the Heritagecare program empowered local communities to care for their treasured heritage assets.
“The Brumby Government is proud to support the community groups and volunteers who do such an important job caring for local heritage places and objects,’’ Mr Madden said.
The Heritagecare program is a partnership between the Brumby Labor Government and Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA), which recruits volunteers and manages projects on behalf of Heritage Victoria.
To volunteer with Heritagecare, contact CVA’s Roger Southern, 03 5221 0300, or visit www.conservationvolunteers.com.au