Trawling through wartime treasures sparked a bomb scare at Dandenong RSL.
Museums Victoria is working with the sub-branch to catalogue and preserve artifacts held in cupboards, cardboard boxes and anywhere else there is behind-the-scenes space.
Some items are of national importance, like the two light horsemen’s uniforms standing in the foyer.
Sergeant Royston Smith wore one uniform at the Gallipoli landings and the legendary charge at Beersheba, and Trooper Scott May donned the other in Afghanistan 100 years later.
Museums Victoria was excited by some of the finds, including captured Japanese and German objects and a large collection of medals.
They were less excited to unearth three suspicious hand grenades on Thursday 17 November.
President John Wells was sure they were disarmed and harmless – but not everyone was so certain.
He said that for a short time a total evacuation was considered, so the RSL alerted Victoria Police and the Army.
Mr Wells removed the grenades from the building and Senior Constable Bec Little and Constable Bec Swan were soon on the scene to ‘hold ground’ and make sure no-one went into harm’s way.
Cars were removed from the area where the grenades were stored.
Warrant Officer Class 2 John McLennan, Sergeant Carl Stanley and Corporal Shane Smith from the Explosive Ordnance Service arrived.
Sgt Smith remained outside the container where the grenades were stored, joking that “good sergeants are hard to replace” but his comrades soon emerged to declare the items safe.
Mr Wells said: “These men, and the two ladies first responders, were so professional, so cool. We are grateful.”
“We have a huge number of donated objects from all the wars and they are part of our history, but we do have to ensure that they offer no risk to people today,” he said.
“We don’t have all the skills or the knowledge – though I’ve thrown a few grenades in my time and even dismantled a few – and it is a huge relief to know that we can get a quick, positive response, and strong support, from Victoria Police and the Army.
“We owe these folks our thanks. Today they stepped up.”
The Journal reported on 29 September that Museums Australia and the State Government were delivering a training program to five organisations across Victoria, including Dandenong RSL, to preserve, maintain and increase access to war heritage collections.
“We have a really proud wartime legacy in Dandenong, and it’s our duty to preserve these memories for younger generations,” Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams said.
“The War Heritage Collections Training Program will give the Dandenong-Cranbourne RSL sub-branch the skills it needs to safeguard the important treasures that mean so much to so many locals.”
Dandenong-Cranbourne RSL will receive intensive museological support from Museums Australia; a tailored report identifying conservation, significance and oral history priorities; up to $5000 to work with a conservation professional to stabilise, repair or rehouse at-risk memorabilia; and support to identify significant memorabilia and catalogue it on the Victorian Collections website.
