Cloncurry students and residents got a unique opportunity to get a close up study of some rare First World War memorabilia this week.
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“First World War Treasures: A White Glove Experience” is a travelling workshop curated by the State Library of Queensland that allows people get a hands-on look at some of the library’s original materials.
Niles Elvery, who is the regional coordinator of the Q Anzac 100 project said they had taken the First World War treasures workshop on the road across rural and regional Queensland including Normanton and Cloncurry and would visit Mount Isa later this year.
“We have a number of different items in the exhibition in terms of the types of records we have, such as letters, photographs, reminiscences and diaries, all from the first world war and all from the State Library of Queensland,” Mr Elvery said.
“Along with medals we have a collection of family materials which gives the whole story of their lives.”
Mr Elvery said the exhibition got a great reaction at the Cloncurry library.
“People just enjoy being able to pick things up, read them, think a little bit about who the person was and getting a better understanding of what it was like to be there,” he said.
“A number of people recognised some of the locations in the photographs.”
At the schools the message was about the availability and the importance of the material.
“It helps students understand what went on in the First World War,” Mr Elvery said. “There’s no one left who lived through this period who can tell us about it now so these are the primary source materials to understand their story.”
Mr Elvery said the exhibition was called white gloves because it was precious.
“We encourage people to have clean hands, oils and sweat on fingers will add to the deterioration of the materials,” he said.
On display were the journal of Rev George Green, a Central Queensland chaplain, ambulance driver Cyril Brett’s records of the incidents he was called out to, and a Second Light Horse horse register which doubled up as a punishment register for the troops who went AWOL or committed other offences.
There were also photo galleries from recruitment marches and embarcations at Pinkenba docks.
Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
