Ailsa Head - a quiet achiever

Ailsa Head has been a great support for Maryborough's local history.

Ailsa has been coming to the Maryborough Library every Wednesday morning for many years. She painstakingly and quietly goes through the Maryborough Chronicle microfilm in search of local history.  She was finally convinced to satisfy our curiosity about her research and her interest in Maryborough by answering a few questions for our Blog. 

“I’ve always been interested in history” she said. “It turned into a passion to do more research when I returned to Maryborough” she explains enthusiastically. This passion was inspired by her volunteer work at the Bond Store and Brennan and Geraghty’s Museum. “Reading about the history of the port and Maryborough and doing the Heritage Walk has enabled me to pick up interesting information to tell the visitors” she clarifies.

The Port of Maryborough has been the focus of her research. “I have done a lot of research on the Port of Maryborough, especially the ships coming into the port, both passenger and cargo and basically anything to do with the area” she details. “I am also doing research into the home area of Munna Creek and did a large display for our recent Back to Munna day this year. I have also done a book about my favourite ship, the Burwah and a History of the Maryborough Town Hall” she continued.

“People who have helped me with research have include Jan Downman, Ann O’Loughlin, Sandra Armstrong, Ian Scougall and The Heritage Centre.”

“Most of my research has been done through the Chronicle microfilm at the library. For months I struggled to learn how to print microfilm items on the computer. Thanks to Karen from the library for her ongoing help with this” said Ailsa.

We are excited to see what her next book shall reveal about the once thriving Port town of Maryborough.

This was published with consent from Ailsa Head.

Tags: Frasercoastlibraries Maryborough Qldheritagetourism Munna Burwah Maryboroughtownhall