Milne Bay Military Museum closure causes outrage

I WRITE in response to Kerry Shine’s letter regarding the Milne Bay Military Museum and thank him for bringing this travesty to our attention.

Milne Bay Military Museum, O'Quinn Street. Picture: Bev Lacey

I WRITE in response to Kerry Shine's letter regarding the Milne Bay Military Museum and thank him for bringing this travesty to the attention of those who have served, military minded people and those with an in interest in local history.

Having served in the 25th Battalion for 26 years, I am dismayed to learn this wonderful facility may be lost. Why the army would need this ground is beyond me, as the battalion has shrunk considerably from the 1970s to now. Once, over 500 troops would be on parade. It's not so now.

A plaque is positioned on the corner of Kitchener and Margaret Sts saying in part, "In 1990, the Drill Hall was moved to O'Quinn St to form part of the Milne Bay Museum".

This fine museum was created to honour the service, sacrifice and heroism of all who have served in the defence of Australia.

The Defence Department purports to honour those who so valiantly fought during all conflicts, yet, with a pen stroke, will remove all trace of our military past, again just playing lip service to all who served and, in some cases, paid the ultimate sacrifice.

How can Defence even pretend that it protects and honours the proud history, traditions and culture of military units with the proposed closing of this museum?

Instead of just finding supposed faults, they should instead be looking for solutions.

It would cost Defence nothing to donate the land to the council to be held in trust, or to the museum.

The museum has a fine array of military memorabilia curated and presented by a dedicated, caring and knowledgeable group of volunteers.

There is a life sized monument, unveiled on April 23, 2016, at the entrance to the museum, which has the inscription, "This monument is in memory of the 25th Battalion men who fought in Milne Bay, Bougainville and the Pacific". What will happen to this valuable collection?

I hope many people sign the petition to retain this historical museum and can do so by contacting Marian Jones (President) on 0407 113 870 or by email: [e-mail]

Originally published as Milne Bay Military Museum closure causes outrage