The exhibition, entitled 'The forests, our green heritage', was officially opened on Tuesday night 30 September at the George Museum.
The attractive information panels depicting the history and photos of the early woodcutters elicited favourable comment from Andrew McEwan, chairman of the SA Institute of Forestry, who remarked, "It is absolutely fantastic, it is a professional job. It was exactly what I was expecting from the museum."
The smaller implements are beautifully displayed behind glass panels. An old wagon, huge handsaws and a yellowwood wheelbarrow (c. 1880) as well as a horn used as an early warning system for bush fires are neatly displayed.
It was the fruit of more than two years of research done by Linda Labuschagne, from Museum Scientific Service and she was ably assisted by the George Museum staff, who helped with the labelling and printing of photos and posters.
A walk though the wood/timber history exhibition is now more user-friendly for tourists and local visitors, as it explains the history in a nutshell from the first attempts to conserve the indigenous forests in 1850 and onwards. Interestingly enough, it was a military man, Captain Harison, who identified the need for conservation. This was after almost a century of uncontrolled exploitation.
George Councillor Iona Kritzinger officiated at the ribbon cutting on Tuesday. She was accompanied on a tour, along with the town's historians who have given their valuable input and time to help bring the exhibition to fruition. They admired the handcrafted furniture, made from indigenous woods, and the interactive touch control panel and display screens that relay information in a quiz form.
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George Heritage Trust Chairman Philda Benkenstein and Natie de Swardt, chairman of the Simon van der Stel Foundation, at the opening of the woodcutters exhibition at the George Museum.
ARTICLE: PAULINE LOURENS, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
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