WHEN local pastor Martin Parish and his wife Jeanette Alderson restored the old Anglican Church in Herons Creek, stories of times gone by flooded in.
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The Herons Creek community was delighted with the restoration and began sharing photographs and titbits of information of local families.
Martin said he felt responsible for the stories people were giving him. The first seeds of an idea began.
Together with the committee of Friends of the Herons Creek Chapel, stories and photographs were collated, researched, placed in an historical timeline.
What emerged were stories of a community of brave, hardworking souls who built a thriving town and raised large families. Some descendants remain in Herons Creek, others have ventured far and wide. One became a legendary Australian filmmaker - Baz Luhrmann.
“This project started because families and friends of Herons Creek wanted the history of their ancestors preserved in the hope that it could be the building block for re-building our community identity,” said project coordinator Martin Parish, pastor at the Herons Creek Chapel.
“A lot of history in Australia has been lost, with only a few historical accounts and with rare black and white photos as the only solemn reminders of the days gone by. Sometimes all we can do is to place a plaque to mark these memories, or a dot on a map to acknowledge the enormous efforts from those who have gone before.”
It’s time to share these stories, at last, and breathe life into the historic community.
The Herons Creek Heritage and Tourist Trail will be officially launched Saturday July 19. The small, dedicated committee has created a self-drive heritage trail through greater Herons Creek, sharing the stories of early pioneering families, disasters, historic milestones, locations and occasions.
Stage one of the project is complete. 33 signs are in place at significant places in the district.
The trails are in sections: the ‘Pioneer Way’ which takes you through the Queens Lake & Bobs Creek areas and the ‘Village Way’ retells the story of the early hub of Herons Creek life. Stage two will be completed as further funding is available; ‘The Cedar Way’ & ‘The Great North Way’.
Taking the journey from Herons Creek, the history of the area is explored through interpretive storytelling, amazing graphic artwork and the option of connecting to the interactive website.
The committee hopes the trail will be enjoyed by tourists and locals alike. History buffs will be satisfied and nature lovers will be led through the scenic wonders of the area, with fascinating stories of years gone by.
Significant history includes stories of local aboriginal people, of where the paddle steamers picked up logs, timber stories and where the railway station was located, Martin said.
The first settlers arrived in the area in the early 1850’s, a thriving timber industry developed. This created the employment that drew more families to settle in the district. They had large families, worked long hours while also working the land to provide for their families. Thanks to the creation of the trail, travellers can learn about the settlers and read of their lives.
Martin Parish, whose grandparents were early settlers to the village life of Herons Creek era, led the committee that has spent countless hours over the past 18 months researching the stories and history.
“Descendants of the early settlers have been contacted searching out old family photos and facts have been sourced,” Martin said.
“The committee has been driven by their own connections to the area and their desire to see the stories told before they are lost forever.
“Gathering evidence of the good old days in Herons Creek has been both a delight and a struggle! I’m so impressed by the committee who has devoted much of their own time and even their own funds to this labour of love - they have written and researched the stories of our past pioneers and historical landmarks with loving care.
“The real benefit of this trail will be for those who drive the routes and investigate using our interactive signs. There is so much to learn about the people and places that are significant in the history of our district. They may even find a few of our hidden tourist gems. This trail is about acknowledging that the history and lives of those who settled in Herons Creek is important and should be remembered forever.”
Join in the celebration on Saturday July 19. Mini buses will be run from Herons Creek Chapel (formerly, St Mary’s) at 49 Blackbutt Road, Herons Creek from 10.30am with the last bus leaving the chapel at 12 noon taking attendees around parts of the new trail to the designated location of the opening. Bookings are essential. A donation to cover the cost of the bus is, $10 Adults, $5 children, $20 families, & Concessions $7. Kendall Men’s Shed will provide a barbecue lunch and drinks at a small charge. Ring Betty Boyd on 65857 022, mobile 0428 109 234 or betty.bill.boyd@gmail.com or Daphne and Les Latham on 6585 5383 or lesanddaph@icloud.com
There will be entertainment, brief formalities and stories from the past will be told. Mayor Peter Besseling will officiate at the opening along with Dr David Gillespie MP (Lyne) and State Member, Leslie Williams. The trail is mostly funded by the Australian Government’s ‘Your Community Heritage Program’, with extra funding generously donated from local businesses and families connected to the area.
