Former Wodonga citizen of the year and Wodonga Historical Society vice president Marie Elliot said the forum would demonstrate the viability of the idea.

“We need people to support this, if we only get half a dozen interested then it is not going be happening,” Mrs Elliot said.

“The council needs to see it’s important for the majority of people in Wodonga and maybe then we might get them to start planning for it.”

Mrs Elliot wants councillors to attend the event, which will be held at 2pm at the Wodonga football club rooms at Martin Park.

“I’m hoping to get a couple of councillors there to show them we’re not going to give up, we’re still going to push ahead, and to get them interested,” she said.

“We’re looking to get some money for a business case to show the economics of it and tourism advantages.”

Beechworth’s Burke Museum manager Patrick Watt and Yackandandah museum curator Susan Reynolds will address the meeting about the value of historic showcases and how theirs operate in small places.

Mrs Elliot has been a keen supporter of a Wodonga museum, using her platform as citizen of the year in 2016 to push the concept.

She would like a centre to be located on Junction Place land.

Mrs Elliot hopes her meeting on Friday will give some confidence to the council to approach Junction Place’s operator Places Victoria to include it in plans for the former railway land.

“I’m 73 now, I don’t know how much time I’ve got,” Mrs Elliot said.

“I want to see some planning and something happening.”