Tour guide Colin Robinson, Greater Dandenong mayor Youhorn Chea, Springvale and District Historical Society president Marian Rollings and fellow Australian literature fan Iris Robinson at the dioramas exhibit.
By Shaun Inguanzo
BANJO Paterson once wrote “the drover’s life has pleasures that the townsfolk never know”.
But in Springvale, a band of history-lovers is bringing the drover’s life to the townsfolk through an exciting series of dioramas.
The Springvale and District Historical Society (SDHS) has set up a colourful exhibit of scenes from the popular poetry of Banjo Paterson and stories of Henry Lawson.
The society is inviting residents to catch the display, which has already won the hearts of local poetry and literature groups as well as school children, before it closes this month.
The Man From Snowy River, The Man From Iron Bark, Mulga Bill’s Bicycle, The Bush Christening, Waltzing Matilda, and Clancy of the Overflow are the Banjo Paterson poems on display.
The Drover’s Wife and Loaded Dog are the Henry Lawson stories that appear in the exhibit.
SDHS president Marian Rollings said the exhibit contained scenes from the popular pieces of Australian literature to help people visualise the context of the poems.
“Because people are told the story verbally they can enjoy them a lot more,” she said.
Ms Rollings thanked Australian literature enthusiasts Colin and Iris Robinson for helping with materials, and said Mr Robinson knew the poems by heart.
“So he can quote part of the poems to visitors while they look at the display, and chatter to the kids and to adults about the themes,” she said.
The SDHS has had more than 250 school children visit the exhibit since it opened last month, and is encouraging residents, history lovers, and more schools to pay the display a visit before it closes on 29 March.
Times of opening are Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 1pm to 4pm.
The exhibit is at the SDHS gallery, 7 Hillcrest Grove, Springvale, and entry is free.
