EVENTS/PLANS
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Chaffey Festival 2nd June 2024
Over 30 people attended the Merbein Chaffey Trail Tour hosted by Merbein District Historical Society. It included visits to the Cluster Box Mosaics, visions of the Merbein Town Mosaics/Art Work and a visit to the Merbein Art Group where we watched artists at work. We finished with a wine tasting at Chalmers Wines Merbein - which was beautifully set up and enjoyed by all.
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MDHS Visit to Yelta Mission Site May 19th 2024
About 25 interested people attended, mostly visitors from Red Cliffs, Wentworth and Mildura. It was also great to see the Milner Family there whose property was once part of the Mission.The afternoon tea, seemingly brought by everyone, was very tasty, had enormous variety and was enjoyed by all with our hot cuppas.Special thanks to Gayle for attending to the cuppa requirements, to Ralph for supervising the registration of all the attendees, to Richard for transporting and erecting the display board/lectern etc. and for quickly re-erecting the board after a rogue gust of wind. Also thanks to Alison for providing the hot water airpot dispensers - they worked well.
There were also many questions re the Mission and many photos were taken.
About 25 interested people attended, mostly visitors from Red Cliffs, Wentworth and Mildura. It was also great to see the Milner Family there whose property was once part of the Mission.The afternoon tea, seemingly brought by everyone, was very tasty, had enormous variety and was enjoyed by all with our hot cuppas.Special thanks to Gayle for attending to the cuppa requirements, to Ralph for supervising the registration of all the attendees, to Richard for transporting and erecting the display board/lectern etc. and for quickly re-erecting the board after a rogue gust of wind. Also thanks to Alison for providing the hot water airpot dispensers - they worked well.
There were also many questions re the Mission and many photos were taken.
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IRRIGATION HISTORY UNVEILED 2018
On 21st November 2018, the double sided information boards which detail the irrigation history of the Merbein Settlement, were jointly unveiled by Chair of Lower Murray Water (LMW), Cheryl Rix and the Merbein District Historical Society (MDHS) President, Bernadette Wells. MDHS researched and supplied the information to LMW, which then facilitated their production and installation near the historic irrigation irrigation pump at Chaffey Park. The Sunraysia Modernisation Project funded the boards and Assistant Federal Treasurer, Michael Sukkar, Mallee MP Andrew Broad and CEO of LMW all attended the unveiling. MOSAICS ON LMW CLUSTER BOXES On 21st November 2018, many MDHS members were present, along with descendants/relatives of Elizabeth Fisher and E. J. Kenny for their unveiling. The smaller Cluster Box 2 on River Ave now has the Cornucopia logo of the Merbein District Historical Society on one panel and a 'Blandowski 'image of indigenous life at Mondellimin, now Chaffey Landing, in 1857. This image includes several young boys playing a form of football, a year before Australian Rules Football was officially invented. Completion of LMW Cluster Box Mosaic Project On 17th April 2023, the last two LMW Cluster Box Mosaic Boards were completed at the LMW Depot on Etiwanda Ave Mildura by Merbein Community members which was informally led by the MDHS. This community project was facilitated by Mark Haynes (Haynes Design) who LMW commissioned to oversee the project and assist with designs and techniques. Other funding sources for the project came from Merbein Vanilla Slice Inc Fund (2016), Sunraysia Health, Wakefield Transport and Merbein District Historical Society. Re-erection of the Merbein State School Rotunda (shelter shed) The Society has now been granted (Feb 2025) by MRCC 'Land Managers Consent' to re-erect the shelter shed at Chaffey Park. The shed, originally on the site of the Merbein Primary School since 1927, was saved from demolition by the Society in 2015. In the next 12 months the Society hopes to have the shed fully funded with contributions from MRCC Merbein Community Support Fund and MDHS Funds. A concrete pad and cover is also to be installed over the LMW Merbein Irrigation Information Board at Chaffey Park and will be funded by MDHS alone as it on LMW land. LMW have also installed, in 2024, a water wheel on the remnant irrigation channel at 'Pump Hill Place' on the southern end of Chaffey Park, where MDHS is working on displaying our unique irrigation history. |
On 26th August, 2016, MDHS members attended the presentation to the MDHS of the original brass plaque on the 1920 pump located at Pump Hill.
A Collection of the Mosaics on the LMW Cluster Boxes
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