A Charles Sturt University (CSU) academic who proposed the addition of an education centre to the historic home in Bathurst of former Labor Prime Minister Ben Chifley and his wife Elizabeth, is delighted his vision has come to fruition and that the facility will be opened by The Hon. Ms Julia Gillard, MP, Prime Minister of Australia, on Saturday 18 September.Dr Robin McLachlan, an adjunct senior lecturer in history at the CSU School of Humanities and Social Sciences in Bathurst has been involved with the Chifley Home initiative since 1998.
“While the whole project has been a collaborative venture, steered by Mr Sam Malloy from Bathurst Regional Council, the concept of the interpretative education centre came from a recommendation I made in 1998 in the first heritage study and management plan for the Chifley Home museum,” Dr McLachlan said.
“At that time, the museum played an important role in my teaching of public and applied history subjects at the University. It was while working with my students at the museum that I came to see the need for an education centre as will be opened on Saturday.
“My involvement with the Chifley Home museum has varied over time since 1998. Most recently, I co-wrote with Sam Malloy the script for the introductory video to be used at the centre. Our video includes clips from the film about the Chifleys that I co-produced with Ronin Films, The Chifleys of Busby Street – a community remembers, as well as a brief clip featuring Tony Barry from the play A Local Man, which I co-wrote with Mr Bob Ellis.
“It has been immensely interesting and satisfying to contribute to the development of the education centre. I have no doubt it will prove to be an important resource in the work of Sam Malloy and his colleagues in telling the story of Ben and Elizabeth Chifley,” Dr McLachlan said.
The Vice-Chancellor and President of CSU, Professor Ian Goulter, congratulated Bathurst Regional Council for its commitment to preserve and develop the historic Chifley Home.
Social
Explore the world of social