Ann Morris - former Councillor and educator

Ann Morris shares her story of courage and self-belief.

Ann Morris, former Maryborough Councillor and educator takes us on a fascinating journey of her life in our interview on our youtube channel found here for our Oral History Series - Having a Voice. She discusses her early years as the daughter of a returned serviceman, her harsh treatment in the education system, her dedication to Indigenous engagement in the Catholic education system, her developing self belief and her dedication to building this in young people in her educational role. Ann was a Maryborough City Council Councillor and still contributes to the community and enjoys being a grandmother.
Tags #oralhistory #councillor #maryborough #education #debono

Jan Williams, local elder, helps us celebrate Naidoc Week.

Local Elder, Jan Williams explaining how to weave raffia.

Participants of the Maryborough event showing off their creations.

To celebrate Naidoc Week our library assistant and Butchulla woman Frances Gala helped organise a basket weaving event at both Hervey Bay and Maryborough Libraries.

Library Assistant Frances Gala, with her cousin Suzette Gala.

NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. Its origins can be traced to the emergence of Aboriginal groups in the 1920s which sought to increase awareness in the wider community of the status and treatment of Indigenous people. 

Butchulla Women - Frances Gala, Suzette Gala and Jan Williams. 

Jan Williams, local elder, shared her raffia weaving skills while discussing some of the steps in Australia's reconciliation journey  

National Reconciliation Week (NRW) runs annually from 27 May – 3 June. The theme for National Reconciliation Week 2017 #NRW2017 was ‘Let’s Take the Next Steps’.These dates mark two milestones in Australia’s reconciliation journey: The 1967 referendum and the historic Mabo decision, respectively.

Keep an eye out on our up and coming events found here for future library events.

Tags: #NRW2017 #NAIDOC #Frasercoast #libraries #Maryborough #HerveyBay #raffia #basket #weaving

Yengarie; once a thriving community

Yengarie Sugar Mill, Yengarie, ca. 1874.
The figure in the foreground of the photograph is the photographer, C. H. Moore. 
Original photograph Maryborough, Wide Bay & Burnett Historical Society 

Yengarie district was a busy area in the late 1880s and two events stand out as testament to this. These were:
1. The opening of Graham's Creek Railway Bridge preceding the opening of the rail link between Maryborough and Gympie.
2. The opening of Graham's Creek Siding.

Grahams Creek Bridge was opened on the 9th January, 1880 as stated here  Governor Kennedy turned the first sod of soil for the Maryborough to Gympie railway line on March 23, 1878. The Bridge was opened just before the line was open to traffic. More information about the Bridge can be found here
The opening was a well attended celebration with a picnic and entertainment including violins, banjos, accordions, concertinas, mouth organs and tin whistles. A band and a company of Wide Bay Regiment were part of the opening ceremony. The ribbon was cut after some speeches. The Green Snifter locomotive engine, pulling three carriages crossed the bridge to a 21 gun salute and the bridge was officially open. Mr Robinson became the first stationmaster.

Grahams Creek siding was built around a year later. It was a very lucrative siding for twenty years and handled logs, sugar, cane and farm produce, cream and firewood. The buildings were next to the Officer's residence and included a goods shed and office, four cottages and two tents.

Do you know anything more about Yengarie?

More information is available in our local history files about this once thriving district.

Tags: #yengarie #railwayline #sugar #logs #cane #