Adjournment – Maryborough Military and Colonial Museum – Speech in the House of Representatives 06/11/2025

Hansard 06/11/2025  House of Representatives

Mr LLEW O’BRIEN (Wide Bay) (16:50):

The Maryborough Military and Colonial Museum is a remarkable place that preserves the legacy and stories of service personnel who have served our country since the Boer War.

The museum has arguably the richest collection of wartime memorabilia outside the national War Memorial and attracts local, national and international visitors, who come to see the magnificent displays of medals, uniforms, models, artwork, letters and mementos that paint a picture of the service and sacrifice of those who have fought to give us our freedom and security.

The museum was established by the late John Wallace Meyers and his wife, Else, who purchased the historic Wharf Street building in 2004 and used their private military collection as a basis for the museum.

John sadly passed away in 2022, but more than 100 volunteers work to continue his legacy, using their time and skills to educate visitors about Maryborough’s colonial and military history.

I worked with the museum to secure a $700,000 grant from the former coalition government to help the museum grow, to make their vast collection of memorabilia and national heritage items accessible to more people and to continue to showcase Maryborough’s rich military history.