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- The
establishment of the National Pioneer Women's
Hall of Fame was due to the efforts of outback
pastoralist and tourism pioneer, Mrs Molly
Clark, of Old Andado Station, Central Australia,
and a small group of people who shared her
dream.
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- It
was felt that the contribution of women to the
development of Australia had not been
sufficiently recognised and a public meeting in
Alice Springs was called in February 1993 to
gauge interest in starting a Hall of Fame for
the pioneering women of Australia. There proved
to be immense interest and an interim committee
was formed. The next few months were spent
drawing up a constitution, becoming an
incorporated association and adopting a logo
while negotiations took place for the use of a
building as temporary premises.
-
 - getting
started
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 - an
early display
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- The
original concept was that the Hall of Fame
should commemorate the contribution of women
from all over Australia both in rural and urban
areas, and from both professional and domestic
backgrounds. The ultimate aim was to raise money
to create a purpose-built museum, including an
art gallery and research area within Alice
Springs.
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- The
project was launched at Molly's outback
homestead, Old Andado on the edge of the Simpson
Desert on Mothers' Day, 8 May 1993. It was
officially launched live on air by popular radio
broadcaster Ian McNamara on his ABC show
"Australia All Over". This event, attended by
around 400 people with entertainment by renowned
bush band "Bloodwood" and balladeer Ted Egan,
has now become the organisation's annual
fundraiser "Molly's
Bash",
held annually at Old Andado on the second
weekend in May to raise money for the new
building.
-
 - official
launch
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 - fundraising
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- In
the meantime, in March 1994 the Northern
Territory government on behalf of the
organisation leased the Old Courthouse, a 1928
heritage-listed former government building
ideally located in Alice Springs' CBD. The
fledgling National Pioneer Women's Hall of Fame
first opened to the public in September 1994,
being manned by a handful of volunteers 2 hours
per day. In the early days their only displays
were some domestic artefacts on trestle tables
and some old photographs, kindly donated by
local supporters.
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- A
Northern Territory Heritage grant enabled the
organisation to establish their first permanent
professionally designed and curated exhibition
by then Vice-President Pauline
Cockrill.
"Ordinary
Women/Extraordinary Lives: Women First in their
Field"
opened on International Women's Day, 8 March
1997 with much acclaim and is still on display
today.
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- To
play the following video clip you will need to
have a copy of the Realvideo Player installed on
your system. If you need to you can click on the
button to download this player.
-
 - Molly
Clark talks about the early days of the National
Pioneer Women's Hall of Fame.
- 28k
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- 128k
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