Switched On Queensland
Web Launch
To celebrate Queensland’s 150th birthday, Queensland Energy Museum (QEM) is creating a legacy for Queensland’s future in the following ways:
1. Publishing a book ‘Switched on Queensland’
2. Launching the second in a series of Queensland Memory of Energy Trails (METs)
3. Strengthening QEM’s Memories of Energy Group (MEGs) network
Switched on Queensland: the Book
This publication was made possible with a Q150 grant.
The official launch will take place in February, 2010 at the South Burnett Energy Centre in Nanango. The author will also attend other small museums in Queensland to present a talk about the book. Full details will be placed on the News Page of our QEM website in the New Year.
Research was undertaken using QEM’s extensive document, newspaper and photographic archive, the State Library’s newspaper archive and various small museums’ collections and local libraries. Many community visits and contacts were also made from Thargomindah in the far South West, to towns in the Darling Downs, South East Queensland, South Burnett andCentral Queensland.
The book is a celebration of Queensland’s rural electrification. It tells the story of the time when electricity first came to small towns in rural and outback Queensland. For some towns, this happened in the 1950s, while other towns received supply in the 1960s, while more isolated townships and many outlying properties had to wait much longer. Generally, whenever it occurred, the advent of reticulated electricity reaching a small town was celebrated with an official Switch-on Ceremony and community festivities. Switched-on Queensland is a book about Queenslanders, with many personal memories and stories of the first time electricity was used in the home and the impact of electricity on daily life in the towns and on the farms. The author is extremely grateful for the freely-given memories, most written out carefully and posted or given to her when she met with community groups.
Switched on Queensland can be purchased direct from QEM or on the day of the launch, when the author and Director of QEM, Dr. Janet King, will be there to give a brief talk and sign copies.
Read the extract!
The Second Memories of Energy Trail
The first MET, the South Burnett Memories of Energy Trail was launched in Kilkivan in 2005. The MET weaves through six towns, Kilkivan, Murgon, Wondai, Kingaroy, Nanango and Yarraman. At each of the local museum sites, there are different specific energy-related displays to view. A few of the sites have changed particulars or displays since 2005. Therefore, the first MET has been updated and will be re-launched on Australia Day 2010 at Ringsfield House, Nanango. The most recent and impressive change can be seen at Nanango with the new South Burnett Energy Centre at Nanango. There are some exciting and interesting displays to view, with some of an interactive nature to please everyone and activities for children. The energy centre incorporates the Visitor Information Centre.
The Brisbane Valley is the location of the second MET and the Brisbane Valley Memories of Energy Trail will be launched at Ringsfield House on Australia Day with the update of the first MET. The Brisbane Valley MET weaves through Toogoolawah, Somerset, Esk, Coominya, Wivenhoe and ends (or begins) at the Ipswich Railway Workshops. There will be places with historical energy-related information, displays and sights along the trail.
With the two METs in place it will be possible to link the two trails into one for a longer energy trail from Kilkivan to Ipswich.
Strengthening the Memories of Energy Group (MEGs) Network
Highfields Pioneer Village was the first museum to express an interest to join the MEGs network, which was initiated by the Director in 1999. Following closely after Highfields was Nanango, Wondai and Pomona, with many more joining in.
However, the usual everyday commitment for museum volunteers in small museums often meant that some MEGs, once established, were not able to continue to contribute stories related to energy from the past or present, or information from collections. The launch of the Switch-on Queensland book and the new Brisbane Valley MET has stimulated some of the former MEGs to get together again.
Additionally, the Director has been finding other interested people in new areas, who are interested in the concept of MEGs. Therefore, as part of an ongoing legacy to Queensland’s energy history and heritage, it is the intention of QEM’s Director to revive the MEGs and introduce Digital Energy Stories (DES) in 2010.
So, when MEG meets DES, there will be many more stories to tell!
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