Court House Museum calls for volunteers to preserve Douglas Shire’s History

JOIN HISTORICAL LEGACY

Jamie Jansen

Journalist

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Currently boasting 11 volunteers, additional support is needed. Left to right in the back row: Lynn Anich, Trudy Erdmann, Emily Morgan, Ann Marie Fapani, Jeanie Haydon, Vivienne Ruffles. In front: Gail Cockburn and Anne Lloyd. Picture: Newsport

Nestled discreetly next to the police station, the heritage-listed Court House Museum holds captivating tales of Douglas Shire’s past. Seeking volunteers to help maintain its rich history, it offers an opportunity that might not immediately come to mind, especially for younger generations, but can certainly be fulfilling. 

With its doors set to reopen on March 3rd after being securely tied down by the Council during the cyclone, the museum is eager to welcome fresh faces to its team. Currently boasting 11 volunteers, including the President and other office bearers, additional support is needed.

Lynn Anich, President of the Douglas Shire Historical Society, emphasised the supportive environment for new volunteers. "We ensure newcomers receive proper guidance,” she explained. Prospective volunteers are only required to commit four hours a month, serving as museum guides on open days: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Jeanie Haydon, a recent volunteer who relocated from Sydney to Mossman five years ago, shared her positive experience. “Volunteering at the museum has allowed me to connect with many wonderful people,” she said. “Port Douglas boasts a rich history, and having a museum here is truly special.”

Gail Cockburn, the museum’s archivist, found profound purpose in overseeing the organisation of the inventory after being diagnosed with MS and retiring from her work as a business education teacher. “It’s a hefty task but fulfilling work for me,” she expressed. “This role offers a different pace but keeps me engaged and sharp.”

Becoming a volunteer means immersing yourself in a heritage-listed building with a fascinating history dating back to its construction in 1879.

The building served multiple functions, including functioning as a courthouse, where it hosted significant court cases like the infamous 1886 Ellen Thompson murder trial. Thompson, sentenced to death, holds the grim distinction of being the only woman hanged in Queensland.

If you want to learn more about the rich history or if you’re interested in becoming a volunteer, you can reach out to the Douglas Shire Historical Society at 0418 960 888.

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