End of Year Wrap Up for 2017
KVHS would like to wish all our members a very Happy New Year and thank you for all your support during 2017.
As the end of the year winds up its a good time to look back at our temporary and new permantent exhibitions during 2017.
'Kiewa Valley Weddings - Here Comes the Bride"
This temporary exhibition featured wedding dresses which were worn by women in the Kiewa Valley. Wedding dresses and bride's maid dresses were from our own collection and on loan from our members and friends. Along with the dresses, a power point presentation displayed historical photos of Kiewa Valley weddings. Many which were on the farms of the families of the wedding party. The interesting thing about this exhibition was the continuation of wedding dresses from the 1880's to the 1990's which reflect societies fashions of the time. Kiewa Valley brides wore dresses just as beautiful and fashionable as city brides wore.
Lest We Forget
Mount Beauty RSL - Sub Branch asked KVHS if they could put a cabinet in our museum to showcase the items they have which commemorate the men and women from the Kiewa Valley or who now live here, who fought in our countries defence forces.
The RSL purchased a display cabinet which now has very interesting items on exhibition. KVHS added our own information panels and photos from a previous gallery exhibition featuring WWI soldiers from the Kiewa Valley. As the World War One 100 year commemorative celebrations are coming to an end this exhibition honours the men and women from the Kiewa Valley who went off to war. The RSL exhibition is a permanent display however, artefacts will change on a regular basis.
Cattlemen & Women of the Bogong High Plains & their Huts.
One of our first permanent exhibition themes was the Kiewa Valley Cattlemen & their High Plains Huts. This exhibition explained how the farmers of the Kiewa Valley had traditionally taken their cattle up to the Bogong High Plains for summer grazing. Through the hard work of our committee members, KVHS were able to obtain two grants to upgrade this exhibition to a more professional standard. With these grants, we were able gain the services of a professional interpretation company to design a new exhibition. Once the concept plain was given to us the hard worked started to obtain all the photos and information for the exhibition. Once again, the committee members of KVHS came through with amazing results. The exhibition consists of artefacts used by the cattlemen & women, photos and a video of the huts along with the men & women who took their cattle "up the top" to graze and booklet highlighting the women who kept the farm running in their husbands absence. This is a fantastic immersive exhibition which gives the feel of a high plains hut and is a highlight of our museum. Considering KVHS museum is a volunteer museum, our exhibitions are just getting better and better!
