Visitor Information Centres

Mareeba VIC Volunteer profile Mary Thompson

Mary Thompson grew up on a tobacco farm on Atherton Creek near the Mareeba aerodrome and as a curious young girl would go and explore the graveyard of World War II aeroplanes situated near her farm. This led to an interest in history and in 1995 when the Mareeba Heritage Museum was being set up, Mary became involved as a volunteer. Over the last fifteen years Mary has created many new displays depicting Mareeba’s history.

Mary has become well known in the local area and amongst the local schools for her ability as a tour guide and is exceptionally talented at keeping her school groups attention especially in the museum’s display school room!

The Tobacco Industry Display at the Heritage Museum has been Mary’s biggest challenge to date but her family background in tobacco growing has aided her in creating a nationally significant collection as classified in a Significance Assessment Report written in April 2010 by Tableland Research and Consultancy Services.

“My work at the Mareeba Heritage Museum has given me more satisfaction and pride than in any paid job that I have done” stated Mary.

Herberton VIC Volunteer profile Bill Jessop:

I have been involved at the Herberton Mining and Information Centre since its inception, as I was invited to help with the early setting up of the displays here. However, the person who was responsible for sparking my interest in the local history of Herberton was my wife, Betty. She is both an author and an historian of the town. Her work inspired me to take my camera and to trek around the area and make photographic records of old mine sites as I went.

I first arrived at Herberton in 1949 and since I have retired, I have worked as a volunteer in my spare time because I enjoy interacting with other people and passing on the wealth of information I have gained from my lifetime experiences on the Tableland while working in the many local industries that include timber-cutting, farming, working on the railway, bridge-building, road-works and particularly in mining. I do enjoy exchanging stories and listen to other people’s experiences as I feel that everyone has something interesting to give.

Malanda Falls Volunteer profile Frank Struber

Frank has been volunteering at Malanda Falls Visitor Centre since its inception in June 1997. He was born in Atherton at the Orderly Private Hospital, which does not exist anymore. He will celebrate 15 years as a volunteer for Malanda Falls Visitor Centre in 2012.

Frank commenced his mechanical apprenticeship with Atherton Tablelands Butter Association (ATBA) in1946. He finished his apprentice in 1951 and worked with them for a further 5 years. He still remembers that all the invoices issued from ATBA the slogan “If your engine don’t go, call ATBA on 121″. Frank is a wealth of knowledge about the history of Malanda, from growing up and living there most of his life.

He married Pat on December 20th 1952, and they have 5 children. They travelled extensively throughout Australia, but the Tablelands always called them home. They both still reside in Malanda, and volunteer at Malanda Falls Visitor Centre.

On visitor information, again the Google Maps for the towns was requested however this needs to be considered in view of the cost / quote on the exiting website -MN and PDIS to discuss.