CREATING a trip down memory lane for many and a new look at the history of the city for others, Aileen Clarke and Margaret Brown will be recognised on Friday for the interactive Fidler and Webb Exhibition at the Australia Day Breakfast and Awards Ceremony.
Set to receive the community event of the year award for the informative and creative display that was held at the Main Corner late last year, the Mount Gambier History Group members said it was a “bit of a bombshell” to hear they
were chosen.
“The award is the icing on the cake really, it has made us very proud to know it was so successful and most importantly that people enjoyed it,” Ms Clarke said.
Spending around two years collecting and sorting through books, photographs and other historical items from the iconic Fidler and Webb store, Ms Brown said it was wonderful to see both locals and visitors enjoying the display.
“A number of former staff members of Fidler and Webb attended the exhibition, they really loved it and it was great to hear them reminiscing on their time working together,” she said.
“There were a lot of old staff photographs in the passageway and Aileen and I would often hear them laughing and chatting about their social group outings together.
“It was really lovely.”
Ms Clarke said descendants of Caleb Fidler and Samuel Webb also made an appearance at the exhibition, travelling from Mount Barker and Geelong to learn more about their family members.
“They were really interested in the history and even asked for copies of what we had compiled,” she said.
“We hope to do that for them later in the year.”
Although confident the exhibition would be popular in the city, Ms Brown said they did not expect to see over 1000 attendees over the course of the few weeks.
“It was a bit of a journey for them with part of the exhibition set up like a shop and window displays recreated,” she said.
“When people were coming through the door you’d hear them go ‘oh wow’ which was really satisfying.”
Grateful to be announced as recipients of the community event of the year award Ms Clarke said it has put the Mount Gambier History Group on the map.
“I think a lot of the former staff members of Fidler and Webb will be very happy to hear the news as well, it is part of their history too,” she said.
“It feels like it is not just our award, it belongs to Mount Gambier because so many people contributed to the exhibition.”
