June, 2015
Membership
Thanks to the members who have been so prompt with their annual subscriptions. Your new membership cards and receipts should be with you in plenty of time for the tax returns.
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Pop-Up Exhibition, Repatriation of WW2 POWs
This was very successful. Over 100 people attended the event. Mac Ford, Ed Crabtree and Vern Roberts spoke of their experiences during this time and the recollections of Nat Eichler were read out to the audience. To be able to connect directly with these men made the experience a memorable one. John Webster and Merv Schneider also attended. The written recollections of all these men have been compiled into a booklet on sale in our shop for $5 + P&H. Nevell McPhee sent his recollections for the book but was unable to attend. We sincerely thank all these men. With their help we have now preserved an important part of our history.
The display was popular with visitors showing examples of log books, memoirs, statistics, maps and photographs. Our thanks to Kitty Owens, the Roving Curator from Museums Australia, Victoria, whose ideas, knowledge and practical assistance were invaluable.
The event was taped by 3 people one of whom is making a DVD of the event which we’ll sell though the shop.
One of the other "tapers" is putting together a set of DVDs including interviews with our veterans as well as the POW experiences: will let you know when these are available.
Part of the Display
Contributors seated from L to R: John Webster, Mac Ford, Nat Eichler, Vern Roberts, Ed Crabtree: standing behind Vern is Merv Schneider
Ed, with Judy Gilbert, reminiscing
(These photos courtesy of David Brewster)
Local Federal Member, Joanne Ryan
Joanne attended the pop-up display and was very impressed both with the story and the work put in by the volunteers. She asked for a meeting with Lyn Gorman and Judy Gilbert so she could be fully briefed on matters relating to the museum precinct. This meeting took place at her office on 5th June and was very successful. After listening to Lyn and Judy talk about the problems with Heritage and the establishment of the precinct Joanne offered to contact members of the Federal Parliament on our behalf. She also suggested a joint meeting with her and State member and Treasurer, Tim Pallas.
Both Lyn and Judy were pleased with the meeting and feel that it could help us progress.
In regards to the hangar and land, we have signed a renewal of the contract between us and the Department of Treasury and Finance extending the date for Heritage to issue a work permit so we can proceed. Nothing can be done until that permit is granted.
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Banners
We’ve had banners made representing each RAAF Liberator Squadron and Flight as well as the USAAF 380th Bomb Group. These were finished for display at the reunion on 26th April.
Once again we had a good turn up for the reunion so we’ll plan to run it again 2016.
The hangar "dressed" for the re-union
At the re-union, checking out the museum display
(These photos courtesy of Dave Miller)
B-24 Liberator Update (John Morrissy)
Work is near completion for fixing fuselage wing fairings at leading and trailing edges.
We are looking into sourcing gang channels for fixing under wing panels, from USA.
Tab control mechanisms are being worked on by Graeme Hore.
The installation of the pulley and fairlead brackets along the wing rear spar is continuing.
Wiring looms have been completed and are being installed to both starboard engines.
Wiring looms being fitted to both engines on the starboard wing
Issues have been found with engines #1 and #4. Cowling panels do not clear the intercooler due to the shape and length of the frame to which they are attached. If the frame is changed this will affect the under wing fairings. We have frame sections which have the same part numbers and a section has been modified to fit the inboard side of #1. Richard is currently investigating what is required to correctly install the cowling panels.
Hangar Happenings
The past month has seen increased participation by younger volunteers in our activities. We now have between 3 and 5 younger volunteers attending the hangar on a Sunday. John Keevins has volunteered to mentor this group. One has already qualified as a tour guide and another is training to also take up this role.
Those in this group still attending school have volunteered to work at the hangar during their school holidays. It’s a development we wish to encourage: involved younger people are important for our future.
We also have 2 local students working in the hangar in the near future as part of their school’s work experience programme. Dave Miller mentors students who apply for this programme.
The pop-up exhibition is in storage at the moment but can be re-activated given an opportunity to share it again. It is possible we could take it to Nhill to display at their airshow in October. We’ve been invited to participate but it will depend on getting volunteers wanting to give up a full weekend. We have attended the Nhill Airshow before and it was a great weekend.
Inverleigh RSL President Mr Mal Johns has made a request for a RAAF artefact to be mounted beside Army and Navy items in front of the RSL building in the main street of Inverleigh.
Committee has decided to donate a Liberator main undercarriage leg and wheel for this purpose. Mal is very pleased with this offer. Dave is making arrangements to have the leg moved to Inverleigh.
The cold weather (it’s colder inside the hangar than outside!) has not reduced the number of active volunteers attending the work sessions. A constant tally of 25 workers is recorded each Tuesday and Thursday.
Hangar Visit
The hangar is very lucky to have the support of the local Visitor Information Centre. As well known by any of you who have travelled around Australia first port of call when entering a new town is their Information Centre to collect information and to make sure nothing is missed out from your visit. Our local centre does a great job in steering visitors our way and we are very grateful for this.
On 16th June 15 volunteers from Wyndham Information Centre visited the hangar for a guided tour and lunch. We all had a great morning. Some of the Centre’s volunteers hadn’t visited us before but were well aware of the history of the restoration and its importance to tourism in Wyndham. They were particularly impressed with seeing it for the first time.
The hangar workers were pleased to have the opportunity to thank these volunteers and further spread the Liberator story.
Wyndham Information Centre volunteers during their hangar visit
Oxford Update
The area in the hangar set aside for the Oxford is a fascinating place to visit. Working with timber is a whole new ball game and means both visitors and hangar workers are on a learning curve, even those not actively working on this project.
Work is progressing on the wing spar. The men are also working on the trailing edge of the main wing section. They are constructing the trailing edge ribs which join onto the wing spar
Cutting timber for the front spar of the starboard wing. You can see why they need more space!
Other Hangar Happenings
Our recent survey showed a majority of you favoured the motto "Liberator Relives". Several didn’t like any of our suggestions and some sent ideas of their own. We have not yet made a decision. At next Committee Meeting we will look at the latest suggestions to see if there might be a better option. Will let you know the results.
Part B of the Museum Accreditation process has been started. We just have to tie up a few loose strings then we can submit Part A for interim assessment.
As part of our work toward becoming an accredited museum, we are making information about our collection more readily accessible through websites such as Victorian Collections and Trove. If you go to victoriancollections.net.au and use "B-24 Liberator" as a search term, you will be able to see photographs and information on many items held in our collection.
As part of the push to attract visitors our site is also listed in "Trip Advisor".
Wyndham City Council recently asked for nominations for their Volunteer of the Year Award. It was much too difficult to nominate just one person from our group of workers so we’ve nominated the hangar crew in the new category (Best Group of Volunteers) for this award.
For those of you with an interest in 200 Flight which flew from Leyburn (Queensland) during WW2 carrying members of Z Force on missions, a memorial to their war efforts will be unveiled at Leyburn on 15th August this year. Ian Waters has been involved in the organisation of this. He has managed to track down several original members and/or their families to attend the ceremony. Should be an interesting unveiling.
Space Fillers……..
FRUSTRATION: trying to find your glasses without your glasses!
I was always taught to respect my elders…but now it’s really hard to find one.
Aspire to inspire before you expire.
