Cardwell and District Historical Society

The Cardwell historians recently gathered at the JC Hubinger museum for their Annual General Meeting.  I had travelled to Cardwell to attend the book launch which was to be held there and discovered the group were also having their annual meeting, so I decided to sit in and learn how this group were progressing.  Society President, Anne Mealing gave the meeting an excellent run down on the groups' activities over the previous year before going on to a detailed report on the many projects the Society have been involved with over this busy anniversary year.  The 150th anniversary of the founding of the town of Cardwell brought on many commemorative projects, both within the Society and along with many in partnership with other community groups making this one of the most hectic years in their history.  This program began in January with the Landing Day function at which the Society held a Billy Tea & Damper morning tea in the Museum Precinct.  At another function, Premier Campbell Newman presented the 'Lady Bowen' porthole back to Cardwell and the Commemorative Quilt was hung in the Museum after its presentation to the community.  Another project the group has been involved with is the rebuilding of the local landmark, 'Sunbeam House' which was damaged by cyclone Ita.  In May, Colonel John Simeoni official launched their Viscount Edward Cardwell exhibition and at the same event, the Society was pleased to have been able to support Helen Pedley in the launch her book 'Streets by the Sea'.  A successful event was also held for the Wedding Dress Soiree and Exhibition which also entailed a number of Costume workshops for the members.  The Anzac Centenary Commemorative project that the group is now working on is the biggest yet in terms of funding and will result in a new facility for local residents as well as tourists, revealing the detailed histories of each of the numerous people from the district who served in World War One.  This project also has some immediate goals with a special display being mounted around the marble Honour Board for Remembrance Day in November.  After the annual meeting, the launch of Ed Healy's long-awaited book about the huge timber industry conducted in the Kirrama Range area was enjoyed by those in attendance along with a fine afternoon tea.  Unfortunately, the long-awited reopening of the Kirrama Range Road, which the Society has been pushing for, has been delayed yet again but hopefully an December opening can be achieved.  The meeting closed with the president calling for a focus next year on building the Society's membership and volunteer base as age is catching up to the hard workers of the group.