ANZAC Day 2017 RSL Wycheproof Branch speaker Paul Haw and photographic exhibition

A Gunner’s view of Vietnam remembered

With his Minolta AL-F camera, Gunner Paul Haw took hundreds of photos after being called up to National Service in 1967 to serve in Vietnam. On ANZAC Day he will tell his story at the Wycheproof Branch RSL service in Centenary Park at 11.00am and at 1.30pm an exhibition of 70 photographs will be opened at the Courthouse in High St.

     The photographs are an essay, telling the story of his time with his battalion and depicting life in rural Vietnam during the war.

     His service in Vietnam was cut short in a minefield on Good Friday 1968, when two mates died and he was one of five injured.  Paul Haw returned to Australia and home to Boort where the environmentalist and historian has since run a family business and co-authored a history, ‘Footprints across the Loddon Plains’.

    The exhibition will be open Sunday to Friday 10am to 4pm for two weeks, last day will be Sunday 7 May. For further information phone Mobile 0409 937 525 or 03 5493 7525, or   see the Wycheproof Historical Society newsletter at,  http://wycheproofhistoricalsociety.blogspot.com.au/

Anzac Day 2015 - WW1 Exhibition Opening

Locals and visitors enjoying the exhibition on Anzac day

There was a fantastic turn out for the opening of the WW1 display at the old primary school museum on Anzac day.  There has been a great deal of work done by our small team in the lead up to the event, so it was wonderful to see it enjoyed by so many and hear all the positive feedback.

Thank you to all who attended. The exhibition is now open by appointment for those who couldn't make it or would like to have another sticky beak, please contact Elaine and Len Storey on (03)54937525 or Mick and Pam Giddings on (03)54937227.


  

Len Storey, Mick Giddings, Maureeen McKersie, Adrian Jorgenson, Elaine Storey and Ainslie Pym alongside the restored  1918 autograph flag.

Mount Wycheproof Community Museum

The old Primary School building which now houses the Wycheproof community museum.

The Mount Wycheproof community museum is currently in development stage, featuring items relating to local history with themes such as the King of the Mount, our local churches, agriculture, the Shire of Wycheproof, and local businesses.

We are volunteer run and open every Wednesday 1:30 - 3:30pm from the 7th of January 2015 onwards, or if you would like to arrange a visit at another time please contact Elaine and Len Storey on (03)54937525 or Mick and Pam Giddings on (03)54937227.


Wycheproof and district brass band instruments.

We believe these instruments date back to the very early days of the Wycheproof brass band, we hope to gather some stories relating to their history shortly, if you have any information feel free to drop us a line.

Mervyn John's uniform and memorabilia.

We are currently preparing an exhibition for the centenary of the Great War and are seeking photographs and information on local servicemen and women. If you have any information or images of interest please contact Elaine Storey on elainestorey@bigpond.com

Autograph Flag commemorating WWI volunteers from Wycheproof & District

The Autograph flag that commemorates WWI volunteers was created by the local Patriotic Guild, a group of women who raised money to send parcels of food, clothing and food to soldiers on the front in Europe during WWI.

The embroidered silk flag has a red background with cream embroidered lettering. On one side is listed the names of all the soldiers who enlisted from our area and on the other side the names of the volunteer women and those who had donated to the Patriotic Guild fund during war period.
The flag is colourful and shows our links to Britain.

The Autograph flag was originally presented to the Shire of Wycheproof and was later stored away and virtually forgotten until rescued by local historian Mancel Giddings around 20 years ago.

With the ANZAC Centenary imminent a grant was received from the Department of Veteran's Affairs to restore and conserve this beautiful flag, lovingly created by the women of Wycheproof. The flag is currently being restored by a team at the University of Melbourne and is expected to be returned to Wycheproof in the next six months. The flag will then be housed in the Wycheproof Community Museum, located in the historic primary school on Mount St.