Editorial: Funding for Scone Historical Society

Since 1848 the old police station, with cells out the back, has weathered the test of time, but is now in need of some repair.

Dave Layzell MP delivered good news today that the Scone Historical Society will be getting a grant of more than $200,000 to preserve Scone’s local history.

Caroline Carter, president of the Scone Historical Society said she found out before Christmas they were successful, but the committee had managed to keep it quiet until the official announcement.

“The phone call to say we got the grant was an amazing Christmas present,” said Ms Carter.

“We need to do restoration work on all of the brick buildings, we’ll be able to insulate all of the buildings and build a new shed to better store parts of our collection,” she said.

“We’ve had to use the old police cells as storage, but now we will be able to clear out the cells and set them up as an exhibit for people to see what the cells used to be like when they were housing prisoners,” said Caroline Carter.

Local history to be restored: L-R: David Layzell MP, Carole Ray, Bettina Cummins, Jenny Woodley, Ann Bailey, Joy Ashford, Caroline Carter, Cr Elizabeth Flaherty, Lynda Posa, Margaret MacDougall and Bill Howie in front of the old gaol cells built in 1848.

David Layzell MP, said he was pleased to see community groups like the Scone Historical Society getting funding to support local history in their community.

“What those funds are all about it helping these community groups and improving the livability in our communities,” said Mr Layzell.

“It means a lot of raffles you don’t have to run!” he joked.

“That would be decades of raffles!” laughed Caroline.

Ms Carter also said Jackie Bakewell from Council had been instrumental in helping them get the grant and was very thankful for her assistance. 

David Layzell, said it can be difficult for community groups to prepare grant applications and giving their project the best chance, and agreed support from Council staff can make all the difference.

Lynda Posa and I got a mention from Caroline, noting we’d Shanghaied Dave when he attended the community garden opening in July and walked him through the museum, and out to the gaol cells to point out the support the local Society needed. 

Caroline and the volunteers seized the opportunity to explain what they needed most to care for our local historical buildings and artifacts, then worked to make the grant a success. 

Caroline now says they’ll get to work ensuring the money is spent well to preserve our history.

 
Kind Regards, Cr Elizabeth Flaherty

Above are my perspectives, opinions and beliefs as a Councillor on the Upper Hunter Shire Council, are my own, which may not (in fact probably don’t) reflect Council’s position, but which as an elected representative I am supported in law to freely express.