EXTRA ratepayers’ money is set to flow to the Wodonga Historical Society as part of a move that also involves lobbying of the Victorian government to find a new home for the organisation.
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Wodonga councillors will be asked on Monday night to support a three-year memorandum of understanding with the society.
It involves $10,000 being given annually to the historical group, on top of existing yearly allocations of $13,500.
The recommendation also states the council should “lobby State Government for land, funding or a permanent premises, on behalf of Wodonga Historical Society”.
The action coincides with the society negotiating a new lease for its South Street premises, where the rent is covered by the council.
Society secretary Uta Wiltshire said a three-year lease with an option for a further two was in prospect.
She welcomed the extra funding for the society, although noted in the first year it was likely to be consumed by the purchase of two new air conditioning units.
Mrs Wiltshire was also happy with the move to push for Victorian government help to find a better home.
“We certainly welcome that, it’s the sort of thing that should have been happening long ago,” she said.
The report for Monday night’s meeting, written by council manager culture and tourism Simone Hogg, does not mention a museum being created via any new premises.
However, it states an audit of the society’s collection is needed before a move.
That is tipped to cost between $8000 and $12,000.
Ms Hogg also flags the need for a business plan, budgeted at $8000 to $10,000, so the society can define its “future direction and objectives, build membership, and secure their (sic) long term sustainability”.
Ms Hogg expresses concern intelligence about the society’s archive may be lost.
“There is also a risk that knowledge surrounding the collection will disappear with members once they cease engagement with the society,” she wrote.
“This is a significant risk as the knowledge held by select members presently informs the provenance of collection items and not all of this is recorded.”