New Entrance Building Opening Stage 1 - 'The Long Paddock'
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk officially opened Stage One of the Australian Workers Heritage Centre's New Entrance Building the - ' Long Paddock.'
The Premier was joined by The Treasurer - the Hon Cameron Dick, MP, and Cabinet Ministers - the Hon Stirling Hinchliffe, MP, the Hon Yvette D'Ath, the Hon Grace Grace, MP, the Hon. Mark Bailey, MP, and the Hon. Michael de Brenni, MP.
Browse through our photo gallery from the New Entrance Building Opening
Photos are courtesy of Trevor Howie and Aaron Skinn of Skinn Deep Photography.
We were privileged to have the Premier, Treasurer and Cabinet Ministers at the Opening of Stage One of the 'Long Paddock'.
Claire Moore - one of our long standing AWHC Management Committee Members acted as MC for the Opening. Philip Cowley, CEO of the AWHC and Jeff Christoffel, Chair of the AWHC's Management Committee addressed attendees at the opening of Stage 1 of 'The Long Paddock'. Both Philip and Jeff have also had a long time association with the Centre and worked closely with the late Bob Gleeson - former CEO and founding member of the Workers Heritage Centre. We were pleased other Management Committee Members - Patrick Purcell and Leann Wilson were in attendance and travelled to Barcaldine to attend the Labour Day Week end Celebrations.
We were honoured to have community youth and student leaders involved in the Opening with Caitlyn Plumb beginning the official duties by an Acknowledgment to County, followed by an indigenous dance troupe with the Central West Aboriginal Corporation (comprising of adults and youth) performing an Acknowledgment to Country through dance and music.
School captains Cate Bourne and Catie Rogers assisted the Premier with the ribbon cutting ceremony.
Speakers addressed guests from the Tree of Knowledge Lectern - handcrafted from wood from the Tree of Knowledge and aptly inscribed by the craftsman of the Lectern - the late Colin L Schuster - “The Tree of Knowledge”/ History rests forever/ in the shade of the old ghost gum/ Colin L Schuster
The Lectern is on permanent display in the Shearers' Hall Display at the Australian Workers Heritage Centre.
Following the speeches, guests enjoyed light refreshments prepared by Halina Williams - the Manager of our soon to be opened cafe, and from which all feedback received was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Local musician - Louise Winters entertained guests with her beautiful guitar playing and soulful singing voice.
We were also fortunate to have members of the Australian Light Horsemen and women Troop form a guard of honour at the Entrance to welcome guests on arrival.
The troop incorporated 17 Light Horsemen and Women from troops at Mt. Morgan, Winton, the Darling Downs, Roma and the Queensland Mounted Infancy Historical Troop in Brisbane. They were in Barcaldine and involved in celebrations over the Labour Day Week End, due to the historic part the Light Horse played in the events of the 1891 Great Shearers' Strike.
Members of the Queensland Mounted Police Unit were also in Barcaldine for the Labour Day Week end and were on duty at the Opening Day. They are the oldest serving police unit in Queensland and continue to play a vital role in modern policing to date.
