Jennifer Pittorino
Melbourne’s Living Museum of the West, is one of more than 30 organisations in Fraser which has been awarded a volunteer grant.
For 39 years, Australia’s first ecomuseum has been documenting, preserving and interpreting the stories and images of the people and places of the west.
Based in Pipemakers Park, the museum has a rich and unique archive of oral histories with audio recordings and transcriptions, videos, photographs, maps, and a unique library about the western region.
Fraser MP Dr Daniel Mulino, said the grant to the Living Museum of the West was particularly poignant, given last year’s death of Peter Haffenden, who devoted a substantial part of his working life to the museum.
“Under his stewardship, the museum recorded the stories of local women, workers, First Nations peoples and migrants,” he said.
“It also researched and championed a range of local environmental issues.
“The $3,175 grant will enable the museum to upgrade its equipment to continue the digitisation of the museum’s archive and add to the museum’s database and website; to support volunteers deliver programs; and to pay for training courses for the museum’s volunteer guides so they can deliver engaging talks and tours.”
Mr Mulino said the Albanese government’s volunteer grant program, which handed out more than $66,000 to groups in the Fraser electorate, supported community organisations to keep providing their valuable services to local residents.
“It is important that we keep his legacy alive, and this funding will go some way to doing that,” he said.
U3A Maribyrnong, which runs to keep seniors active and connected, was awarded a grant to upskill their volunteers.
Other organisations that received grants included sports clubs to help pay for first aid courses; senior citizens groups and neighbourhood houses, which provide community lunches to keep citizens connected; and youth groups.
