ONE of the driving forces behind the 100-strong collection of horsedrawn vehicles at the Millicent National Trust Museum was recognised in yesterday’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
Adelaide resident Peter Foster has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to community history.
Although he lives in Adelaide, Mr Foster has personally restored dozens of the vehicles.
Furthermore, he has had a hands on involvement at the Millicent workshop in bringing many other carriages back to their former glory.
He makes the 800-kilometre round trip to Millicent about six or seven times a year.
Without the expertise of Mr Foster over the past 35 years, it is unlikely that Millicent can boast it has one of the best horse-drawn vehicle collections in the nation.
His OAM citation also notes his 30 years as a volunteer with the National Trust in various capacities as well as his active involvement with the Birdwood Mill museum, Keswick Barracks army museum and the annual Bayto-Birdwood veteran and vintage car rally.
The award is timely as the Millicent Museum marked its 50th anniversary in April and reopened on Friday after an enforced threemonth closure owing to COVID-19 restrictions.
When approached by The South Eastern Times, Mr Foster said he was pleased to have played a part in the development of the museum.
“I remember what museum founder the late Dr David Harris said when he was awarded the OAM,” Mr Foster said.
“Dr Harris said he was tickled pink and I feel the same way.
“I do not have a favourite exhibit at Millicent as they are all of equal historic value.
“They all have a story to tell.
“For example, there is the landau which was formerly owned by a doctor at Gawler.
“It was economical to run as it only required one horse and one coachman.
“Millicent has an exceptional display of horse-drawn vehicles and it is the best in Australia.
“This should be promoted.”
Mr Foster has a background in signwriting and learned his trade in Adelaide in the 1950s at the then Municipal Tramways Trust.
It was the State Government authority which operated trams and buses.
He worked alongside men at the end of their careers who had started in Edwardian times.
Mr Foster’s passion for the Millicent National Trust Museum has never waned and he is full of praise for its leadership and membership.
Millicent National Trust branch chairman Barry Long said the OAM for Mr Foster was well deserved and also a great day for the branch.
Along with past chairman John Northwood, he had written letters of support for the nomination.
“Peter has great skills in wheelwrighting and fine-line painting and he has taught those skills to others here in Millicent,” Mr Long said.
“The brushes he uses are 100 years old.
“He was a big help in bringing the state collection of National Trust vehicles from Adelaide to Millicent around 15 years ago.”
