Compiled by Janet Wilson, this is the second instalment of a comprehensive account of the history of the Korumburra and District Historical Society.
1973 April Bus trip to Phillip Island arranged.
1973 September Annual dinner to be held at Loch Haven, 2nd. November.
1973 September Vintage train in Korumburra in November, society to cater for this event. Trade fair also coming up, decision to have a stall there.
1973 October More emphasis to be placed on the collection of historical material.
1973 October Bus trip to Walhalla arranged.
1974 February Council’s Coal Creek Committee prepared to incorporate the Historical Society as a house furnishing sub-committee. Buss trip to Port Albert and area.
1974 March Thanks to all for their efforts involved in the opening of the park. Concern in relation to lack of fire fighting preparation at the park.
1974 June Preparations beginning for visit of vintage train on 7 July.
1974 July Possibility that old Jeetho school building would go to Poowong.
1974 August Need for a written history from 1926.
1975 February Working bee arranged for 13 February at Coal Creek. Query to be made of RHSV re matters involving preservation of documents, classification, etc.
1975 March Regular newsletter to be instituted. Richard Opie presented a paper on Whitelaw. As a secondary teacher he indicated that he would be introducing local studies, and a visit to Coal Creek for his students.
1975 July Members asked by Coal Creek to assist in selling yearly passes to the park. Total of $6,000 now given to Coal Creek. Request from park to assist in setting up the Jeetho School, now located at Coal Creek. This request was adopted. Former students still in the area to be invited to the next meeting to give reminiscences. The whistle from the Butter Factory had been given to Mr. Ken Wallace-Dunlop, by Mr. McKenzie (manager), also an early photo and a prize certificate. Mr. McKenzie to be asked to be guest speaker at the next annual dinner meeting.
1975 September Members agreed to accept responsibility for furnishing and equipping former Jeetho school now located at Coal Creek. Mr. Steilow’s time at Jeetho was discussed with former pupils in attendance. Quite some detail contained in these minutes.
1975 October Total of $6,000 given to Coal Creek by the historical society, the total over the years since inception that is. The first copy of “Flashback” has been produced, and the president commented that if it continued, it could provide the challenge that the society needed. Copies of “Flashback” to be sold on street stall and at Coal Creek for 50c. per copy.
1975 December Minute of appreciation for the contribution of the Late Mr. Hugh Brown was placed on the books. As a former miner he had contributed to the first issue of “Flashback”. Catering for the visit of the vintage train was discussed.
1976 February Membership drive to take place. Second copy of “Flashback” to be produced.
1976 April Mr. Joe White congratulated on his book released for the Outtrim Back-To and thanked him for documents and photos which he had given to the society,
1976 July Members to attend a meeting called by the shire to discuss use of the old post office building. Mrs. Stevens and Mrs. Lane to attend. Date for Back-To Korumburra discussed. First settlement 1878, township survey and land sales not until 1887 or early 1888, and first post office not until 1889. The need for an updated version of ‘The Land of the Lyrebird” to be discussed with the Shire. Jury room at the old court house had been granted to the society for the storage of historical material.
1976 August Kardella hall now situated at Coal Creek. Agreement to set up a shop at Coal Creek’s general store. Inspection to be made however before final decision to be made. Annual dinner dispensed with for the current year, guest speaker at the next meeting.
1976 September Meeting had taken place with the shire re the writing of a history of the shire.
1976 October $6,250 now given to Coal Creek.
May 1977 Historical display in Old Post Office to complement Dahlia Festival. Valuable documents of the society to be kept in a locked cupboard at Coal Creek. Members to meet at the park and discuss the setting up of the dress shop. The Tarwin Lower bell to be positioned between the church and the school. Members listened to a taped interview with former miner, Dick Burgess.
July 1977 Edition of “Flashback” intended for print in July or August, 750 copies to be printed and made available at 70c. per copy. Possibility of a booklet to detail all buildings at Coal Creek, with members to gather material on particular buildings, also to include details as to the origin of Coal Creek village.
August 1977 Mrs. Edith Lucas thanked for her work in the making of old style dresses for display in the almost completed dress shop. The wishing well at Coal Creek had brought in almost $400.
October 1977 It was reported that a study group from Melbourne University had toured Gippsland. A photographer was said to have accompanied the tour group.
1977 November 2nd. edition of “Flashback” ready in fortnight’s time. Sentinel-Times to meet the cost of work that has gone into the production. Society to pay for paper and printing.
February 1978 Ten members present at the meeting. Hist. Soc. to prepare and provide a tourism booklet for Coal Creek Park. Discussion as to involvement in Karmai parade.
May 1978 A vestry built at rear of church at Coal Creek, and made available to Historical Society for storage purposes.
June 1978 Program for next meeting to centre on early farming years. Mr. S. Miles who had prepared tape recordings to be asked to share in the meeting program.
August 1978 Eight members present.
October 1978 Tributes paid to Ken Wallace-Dunlop president for more than ten years. “The society, the district and the Historical Park owe him gratitude for much that has been achieved in matters of historical interest, relating to this shire”. Annual membership raised to $2, life membership raised to $20. Mr. Joseph White was the speaker, detailing his work in collection, presentation and publication of his work. The talk was recorded.
1979 April Next meeting to be forgone instead members to gather at records room at Coal Creek and members work on records held there.
1979 May Dr. K. Bowden is reproducing his book “Early Days of Korumburra” and “The Great Southern Railway”, and will be available at Coal Creek. Members listened to a tape recording of a conversation recorded by the president with Mr. “Stag” Garrard on his recollections of earlier days of Korumburra.
1979 September Support for Council in its endeavour to acquire small area of land which contains railway reservoir between Poowong and Nyora and that it be named in memory of the Littledyke family. Barry Sykes spoke on the history of Jumbunna and Outtrim, the mines and the railway.
1979 October Records now stored in vestry at the church in Coal Creek. Some storage equipment had been bought, and work commenced on listing documents held. Meeting held at Uniting Church, also that of November. February meeting also held here. Municipal meeting room had not been available over this period.
1980 August Committee appointed to set up a memorial to miners killed in local mines at the Coal Creek Historical Park
October 1980 Request made by Coal Creek for suggestions as to names for street within the park. The names of former mines were listed, with these suggested as possible street names. Mrs. M. Stevens and Mrs. B. Lane had chaired meetings in the absence of chairman, Mr. B. Blake for an extended period.
July 1981 Meeting held at Poowong Library. Report of planting of oak tree in Botanical Gardens from Korumburra Advocate in 1911.
November 1981 Brian Blake stepped down as president after serving as secretary from 1966 until elected as president in 1978. A wonderful contribution to the life of the Historical Society. Membership fees to be $2.00, life memberships $20.00. Miners’ memorial plaque had been unveiled at Coal Creek during the year. A Sub committee formed at Poowong, a matter of special concern is the preservation of the old Wesleyan Church. As in past years members have maintained their interest and involvement at Coal Creek. Ken Wallace-Dunlop represents the society on the committee of management. Concern as to low attendance at meetings. Records stored at Coal Creek in the Jessie Ludge Room, the vestry of the church building.
June 1982 Poowong Wesleyan Church added to the National Trust list of recorded buildings.
April 1983 “Heritage Week” display to be set up in municipal library with primary school children to attend each day.
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