BACK in 1987, a pottery teacher from Bathurst suggested to her students at the Oberon Day Care Centre that they embark on a project of building a model of the township as it was in the 1930s - a tall order since it meant casting their minds back 50 years! However, with the help of a well-known identity, “Aunty Ollie”, and a number of older day care people, plus old photos and much talk, the work began.
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Pyneboard donated wood for the base and the “workers” spent several months building, painting and decorating a papier mache base, before starting on pottery replicas of buildings like Ramsgate, Nurse Fox’s home, the post office, and Cashins store, just to mention a few, as well as numerous animals, and lots of backyard dunnies.
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Brenda Lyon was the Oberon Day Care Centre co-ordinator at the time and she remembers having the job of organising the drying of the pottery pieces in the kiln. There were over 2000 pieces in all, and the project took over 12 months to complete.
There were over 2000 pieces in all.
The model was kept in the old nursing home behind the hospital for many years before it was saved from being taken to the tip and then moved to the museum.
A small museum working party is currently restoring the “streetscape”. It is filled with character and charm and will hopefully be a source of pleasant memories and delight for museum visitors.
The Oberon District Museum was very pleased to accept 10 new members at its recent committee meeting. Membership application forms are available from committee members, Oberon Library and St Vincent de Paul’s shop.
The museum will reopen its doors this coming weekend from 10.30am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday. Thereafter it will open on the first Saturday of the month from noon to 4pm and every Sunday from 10.30am to 4pm. It will also open an extra Saturday, March 16.
Inquiries can be directed to oberonmuseum@gmail.com or phone the secretary on 0418 671 754.
OPENING
AT the same site of the Oberon and District Museum, the Skoda and Tatra Museum will hold its official opening on Saturday, March 2 at 11.30am.
The museum will be officially opened by Ondrej Bohac, Charge d’Affaires, Embassy of the Czech Republic in Canberra.
A lunch of Czech cuisine will be served at the heritage Oberon Railway Station at a cost of $15.
