By Kath Gannaway
WHEN members of the Upper Yarra Valley Historical Society decided to ramp things up with an ambitious project at their Yarra Junction-based museum, they signed on for a lengthy process.
The launch of a $40,000-plus access ramp to the museum on Wednesday, 30 November, was very much a tribute to former member and initiator of the project, Rhonda Simmonds, and to the unrelenting determination of UYVHS president Tom O’Meara and other members who saw it through.
Mr O’Meara said it was four years since they first decided a ramp was needed.
“After many instances of watching the aged, the disabled, the infirm, the injured struggle up the steps to the station platform, the need for an access ramp was glaringly evident,” Mr O’Meara said.
He said the aspiration was to construct a ramp based on 90 per cent heritage, recreating a previous ramp, and 10 per cent access formula.
“That did not eventuate, and, in fact, the proportions were pretty much reversed to achieve the final design you see here today,” he said proceeding to thank the volunteers and others involved in the preliminary excavation works and the agencies and companies who came together to provide the funding, design and construction of the ramp.
The funding was a collaboration involving Yarra Ranges Council, Warburton/Yarra Junction Community (Bendigo) Bank, RACV Community Foundation and VicForests.
“I thank our funding partners for having faith in an all-volunteer organisation striving to meet its societal aims,” Mr O’Meara said.
He also thanked Dizign Building Designers, Urban Maintenance Systems and A&C Total Building Maintenance, and their staff, for “going above and beyond” to deliver a project in a manner he said showed an understanding of the status of the society in the community.
He said the society also wanted to acknowledge the support and encouragement of Yarra Ranges Council staff and society volunteers who had embraced the ramp project.
O’Shannassy Ward Cr Jim Child also recognised the sponsorship partners, saying when organisations work together you get great outcomes.
“The main drivers in this however, are you, Tom, and your committee,” he said
“We help the process along, but at the end of the day it’s you people who hold it all together,” he said.
Mr O’Meara said it was the long-term goal to make the ramp the new entrance, recreating the layout of the 1960s and to campaign to promote the new accessibility of the museum to groups outside the shire.
He said future projects included restoration of the goods shed and railway cottage, to run three exhibitions in the ticket room and to participate in at least six events in 2017.
The Upper Yarra Museum is open on Wednesdays and Sundays. Visit upperyarramuseum.org.au or phone 5967 2167.
