Passion for collecting is widespread, including on the north coast where the Tweed Regional Museum in Murwillumbah has launched a new program for March titled Collectors Cabinet to showcase some of the Tweed’s private collections.
Topics based on the museum’s collection and featuring stories with fascinating connections to the Tweed include one collector’s love of fishing reels, International Women’s Day, and the world of heritage bricks.
‘Our program of talks and displays during March demonstrates just how varied stories of Tweed history and heritage can be’, museum director, Judy Kean, said.
‘Many people collect, and what they collect can be surprising and fascinating. There’s a reason why programs like Bargain Hunt and the Antiques Road Show are so popular.’
‘The museum’s collection, like many other public collections, has benefited from the generosity of private collectors, but there are real limits to what we can acquire.
‘Through Collectors Cabinet we’ll work with private collectors to share their knowledge, and the stories behind their passion for collecting.
‘We kick off with a selection from the more than 320 fishing reels donated to the museum by Barry Waters. It’s a great story about someone who started small and then found it hard to stop,’ Ms Kean said
Barry Waters will present a talk about his collection at 11am on Saturday, 5 March.
The museum will also celebrate International Women’s Day on Tuesday, 8 March, with an event focusing on ‘Fingal’s Women Warriors’ from 5.30pm for 6pm.
The panel discussion takes its title from a New Idea article published 25 years ago about community efforts, and the efforts of a small group of women in particular, to preserve the natural and cultural heritage of Fingal Head in the face of proposed development.
‘The efforts of two of these women Olga Vidler and Elizabeth Allen (both now deceased) featured in Caravans and Communes, published by the museum in 2011. A substantial collection of family and personal memorabilia was subsequently donated to the Museum by Olga Vidler and her family.’
The museum will host a panel discussion on International Women’s Day to share the stories and celebrate the contributions of some of the women still actively involved in caring for Fingal Head.
The final event in March takes a look at the fascinating world of heritage bricks. Maurice Potrzeba, a brick restoration specialist and fourth generation bricklayer will present a talk on Wednesday, 23 March, at 6pm.
For more information visit museum.tweed.nsw.gov.au, call 0266 702 493 or call in to the museum at 2 Queensland Road to pick up a brochure.
