The Tenterfield Isolation Ward Restoration Group has earned a coup, getting shortlisted for a prestigious National Trust gong for its ongoing efforts to transform the little white building at the rear of Tenterfield Hospital into a museum.
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This year marks the centenary of when the worldwide Spanish Flu epidemic hit Tenterfield as it was spread by WWI soldiers returning home. Tenterfield's Isolation Ward was commissioned in anticipation of the flu's arrival, although the disease passed through the district in a month before the building was completed.
The building did, however, go on to serve as an isolation ward for other contagious diseases and is the only known inland isolation block.
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Chief driver of the museum initiative, Dr Ian Unsworth, said the project is ongoing as memorabilia is catalogued, photographs enlarged, descriptive plaques are created and the story is pieced together before the museum's grand opening.
To that end, the group continues to put out the call for any memorabilia relating to the period 1916-1919 and in particular the epidemic, be it photos, stories and or detail that members of the public would like to share. He or fellow group member John Brown can contacted about any finds.
He said on advice from council's museum adviser Debbie Newell, the Isolation Ward will focus specifically on the Spanish Flu, while hopefully other hospital memorabilia will be displayed in areas of the hospital itself.
Zac Curry is a more-recent addition to the group, and Dr Unsworth credits him with nominating the project for National Trust consideration and securing the shortlisting for the award in its category Adaptive reuse.
This category includes "projects that complement and utilise existing heritage fabric, re-purposed and new developments that are sympathetic to the traditional uses of a site and its structure, and protect the heritage integrity".
Mr Curry said the awards process draws attention not only to the ward but to the treasure trove of Tenterfield history on a wider scale.
His efforts to 'sell' the story of what the project is about and how it aligns with National Trust ideals were obviously successful. He said it's as much about remembering and recognising the impact of the SPanish Flu as it is about reliving Tenterfield's cutthroat and haunting past.
With another major project -- preserving the CBD as a national monument -- gaining momentum, Dr Unsworth said it will be important to have these satellite tourism spots also preserved and operating.
The Isolation Ward is up against some stiff competition in the State Library nomination and two other projects, the Fenwick Stone Building and Tayim @ Evan's Stores. The group however is thrilled at the attention being drawn to the project just by being shortlisted, especially given the additional promotion with the awards being in their 25th year.
The winner will be revealed on May 10. Category winners receive a trophy and a lot of promotion.
While they're hopeful of a win, Dr Unsworth and Mr Curry said just to be shortlisted is credit enough.