War Heritage Roadshow: keeping Frankston military history safe in the home

Image of the War Heritage Roadshow promo.
The War Heritage Roadshow is designed to help preserve Australia’s wartime history, from the Boer War to the most recent conflicts, and give families and communities the tools to care for their memorabilia at home.

Families from Frankston will learn about their own wartime history at a two-day War Heritage Roadshow that kicks off on Friday, 28 July.

Australia’s top preservation and conservation experts will examine war memorabilia at the Antiques Roadshow-inspired event as part of a state-wide War Heritage Roadshow.

A Victorian Government initiative being delivered by the University of Melbourne Grimwade Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation, the roadshow is designed to help preserve Australia’s wartime history, from the Boer War to the most recent conflicts, and give families and communities the tools to care for their memorabilia at home.

Grimwade Centre Director Robyn Sloggett said many Frankston families have items of service and wartime memorabilia that help tell the story of Australia’s war history and represent community contributions to the war effort.

“The Peninsula has a long and proud military history,” Professor Sloggett said.

“The Navy's premier training establishment, HMAS Cerberus, is near Crib Point on Hann's Inlet, Western Port Bay, and at the declaration of World War II, the Balcombe Army Camp was established as a training ground in Mount Martha.

“This roadshow will help families look after and better understand the stories behind war memorabilia that has been passed down through generations them."

Minister for Veterans John Eren said the Roadshow is part of the Victorian Government Veterans Heritage and History Strategy to safeguard our wartime legacy for future generations.

"Many Victorians hold wartime artefacts important to their family story – and we want to make sure they can stay safely in family hands,” Mr Eren said.

“The Roadshow will provide a wonderful opportunity for Victorians to learn how to care for their precious wartime objects.”

The Frankston War Heritage Roadshow will be held at the Frankston Mechanics Institute, 1A Plowman Place, Frankston on 28 and 29 July before heading to Warrnambool in mid-August.