On the third anniversary of the establishment in Bathurst of the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum which houses the renowned Somerville Collection, Professor John Hicks, Head of Bathurst Campus of Charles Sturt University (CSU), today announced that CSU will commit a further $200 000 over four years to support the Museum.Professor Hicks said “The Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum is a world-class museum in our own ‘backyard’. International visitors to the University have commented that the Museum and its Somerville Collection would find a home in many of the world’s leading cities.
“This is a wonderful educational and cultural resource for the people of Bathurst and the whole of inland NSW, and since the Museum’s inception, the University has contributed more than $1 million to its establishment and operation,” Professor Hicks said.
“CSU also provides grants in excess of $500 000 annually to related organisations that promote cultural, artistic and educational opportunities for our communities across inland NSW.
“In the Bathurst community alone, CSU supports the Bathurst Regional Conservatorium of Music, Arts Out West, 2MCE community radio, the Western Region Academy of Sport, and the Somerville Collection with grants and in kind support.
“This is an important part of our role as an educational institution and as a member of our local inland communities. It enriches the intellectual, cultural and social life of the whole community.
“Like CSU, which brings people to Bathurst and contributes more than $250 million in gross regional product across our campus towns, the Museum, which attracts more than 25 000 visitors annually, is also an important economic asset for tourism and business in the Bathurst area.”
Professor Hicks expressed his optimism that the mining and minerals industry in Australia would make a significant contribution to the ongoing costs of running the Museum.
“One of the major beneficiaries of the work of the Museum is the mining and minerals industry,” Professor Hicks said.
“I am therefore hopeful that members of the industry will consider making significant financial contributions to the Museum as a way for the industry to show its commitment to inland NSW and this important cultural asset.
“CSU’s contribution has been provided to assist the Board of the Museum to develop and implement a strategy to establish an endowment to underwrite the recurrent costs of operating a world-class Museum in our local area and allow it to be self-sufficient at the end of the funding period.”
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