Celebration of community heritage at Hall Schoolhouse Museum
15 October 2008
On Sunday 12th October, the National Trust of Australia (ACT) launched two publications from children's heritage competitions at Hall School House Museum.
Children who entered the 2005 and 2006 competitions, Connections and Living Treasures attended the event, along with the people they interviewed, members of the Hall Progress Association, National Trust representatives, and representatives from ACT government Heritage section and the ACT Heritage Library.
The competitions were the last two of a series of three held by the National Trust from 2004 – 2006. They were made possible through ACT Government Community Partnerships grants in conjunction with a Department of Urban Services partner, the Heritage Unit for Connections and the ACT Heritage Library for Living Treasures. In the competitions, children were asked to interview older members of community about the heritage they valued in the ACT and region.
The delightful publications portray Canberran children's newly awakened awareness of the diverse heritage in Canberra and the region, and copies are available free of charge from Old Parliament House shop, managed by the National Trust. The Hall Schoolhouse Museum was an appropriate venue for the launch as an example of community heritage valued for nearly 100 years. As well as the publications, and some of the original work, National Trust self guided brochures of Hall Village were also on display. These brochures are also available from the National Trust and the Hall Progress Association.
Mr Eric Martin, AM, President of the ACT Trust, spoke about the competitions before launching the publications and introducing the guest speaker, Mr Alastair Crombie. Alastair spoke about the special heritage values of Hall Village. The event was concluded with a fascinating visit to the Museum where Elizabeth Burness, teacher, historical interpreter and story teller, presented the museum collection and introduced children and adult visitors to the children of Hall Primary School.
This special insight into the past was illuminating to both the adults and children and thoroughly enjoyed by all. The National Trust thanks the Hall Progress Association and Elizabeth Burness for their assistance with the launch and is looking forward to running future events in conjunction with the Hall Progress Association.