|
A Brief History
The initial concept to establish a
Hall of Fame within the Muswellbrook Shire can be traced back to November
1997.
Former Shire Councillor and retired
high school teacher C.B. (Bruce) James was listening to Ian McNamara's
program; "Australia All Over" on ABC Radio. Reference was made to a new sporting
hall of fame in Narrandera, NSW. Bruce's reaction was, "If Narrandera can have a
hall of fame, why can't we have one in the Muswellbrook Shire?"
In the weeks that followed, he
contacted Narrandera Shire Council and the Muswellbrook Shire General Manager,
Lou Fisher, Mayor, Clr Ian Seymour OAM, Local Members George Souris (State) and
Joel Fitzgibbon (Federal), the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the
Historical Society. Without exception, they all offered their enthusiastic
support.
In February 1998, after Bruce
addressed Muswellbrook Shire's meeting, the Council endorsed the proposal and
recommended that a Community Committee of Management be formed, with the
Mayor as an ex-officio member.
The first meeting, held one month
later, began the planning stage to draw up guidelines, arrange the funding and
select a venue. The committee consisted of:
Bruce James - Convenor
Ian Seymour OAM - Mayor of Muswellbrook
Kevin Doherty - Making Muswellbrook Co-ordinator
Bernie Budden - former editor of the
Muswellbrook Chronicle
Ian Wolfgang - former Shire President
Mal Rothe - Muswellbrook and Upper Hunter
Historical Society
Rob Tickle - Muswellbrook and Upper Hunter
Historical Society
Veronica Passlow - Muswellbrook Chamber of
Commerce and Industry
Brian McGrath - sports media
Clr John Douglas - Muswellbrook Sports Council
Penelope Young - Denman Development Association
Christine Rogers - Community representative
An early policy decision was to recongnise those who
achieved outstanding success in all fields of endeavour. This was an
important distinction from the move common sporting halls of fame. At a meeting
of the Muswellbrook Shire Council on Monday October 12, 1998 it was
resolved to make the Muswellbrook Shire Hall of Fame Management Committee a
Committee of Council.
An application to the Federation
Community Projects Program resulted in a grant of $20,000, which was
received in mid 1999.
After an offer to locate the MSHOF
in the renovated Regional Art Centre was withdrawn, a touch screen computer
with printer, and a ceremonial leather-bound book, was set up on
purpose-designed and locally made furniture in the Muswellbrook District
Library.
Details of the citations of 17
military honours recipients were obtained from Canberra based researcher.
The list was obtained from the cenotaphs in Muswellbrook and Denman.
Applications for membership of the
MSHOF were sought on the specially designed nomination form. These were
obtained by writing directly to potential inductees or to members of their
family or friends. Some were nominated by members of the MSHOF Committee.
By October 2001, forty-nine
nominations were received and accepted, as complying with the guidelines and
criteria. These covered 7 general categories, 6 sporting categories, 10 Imperial
Honours, 9 Australian Honours and the 17 Military Honours. Four of the inductees
qualified in two of the categories.
The first Induction Ceremony
was held on Wednesday December 5, 2001 appropriately during the
Centenary of Federation Year. It was held in the Muswellbrook Regional Art
Centre, in conjunction with the Muswellbrook Shire Council Christmas Function.
It is intended to hold similar
functions on a biennial basis.
The current Community Committee of
Management consists of:
Bruce James, Chairperson
Mal Rothe, Secretary
Mayor John Colvin, AM, RFD, ED
Bernie Budden
Veronica Passlow
Christine Rogers
Rob Tickle
Ian Wolfgang
|
