Winner
Anne Faithfull, Volunteer, Busselton community (a posthumous award)
Anne Faithfull, a third-generation funeral director in Busselton, was involved, with the Rotary
Club of Busselton-Geographe Bay, the Busselton Art Sculpture Precinct Development Project and the Busselton Foreshore Development Project.
But Anne’s true passion was the restoration of Busselton Pioneer Cemetery. When she noticed its increasing deterioration, she approached the City of Busselton for a copy of the Pioneer Cemetery Conservation and Maintenance Plan. Guided by the Plan, Anne worked with the City and the Heritage Council of Western Australia to coordinate work, including fence repairs, conservation and restoration works, clearing of gravesites and the repair and reinstallation of damaged timber crosses.
Anne worked with local historian Judith Murray on interpretive signage that details the cemetery’s history and information about notable people buried there. She spent considerable time researching and cross-checking the old Busselton Cemetery inventory, databases, births, deaths and marriages documentation, to build a comprehensive map of grave locations, making it easier for locals and visitors to find specific gravesites that continue to help tell the area’s pioneer story.
Commendation
Peter Ramsay BEM (Mil), President, Friends of ANZAC Cottage
Peter Ramsay BEM (Mil)’s passion for heritage is demonstrated by his three decades of voluntary service to ANZAC Cottage in Mount Hawthorn.
As President of the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia (WA Branch) and the Friends of ANZAC Cottage, Peter brings invaluable expertise to these roles.
It began with the challenge of restoring this heritage site and continues with a diverse range of projects aimed at promoting the cottage and commemorating war service. Peter has committed his time and skills not only to the cottage but to the heritage of the City of Vincent and Western Australia.
He has managed and coordinated many celebratory and commemorative events at the cottage. He introduced the popular ANZAC Day Sunset Service more than 20 years ago and it has now expanded to the Remembrance Day commemorations. During Peter's tenure, the Friends of ANZAC Cottage also hosted the cottage’s 90th and centenary celebrations.
Finalists
Margaret Baxter, Chair, Dunsborough Historical Society
Dunsborough and its surrounding areas are among Western Australia’s most popular tourist destinations. But how many people are aware of the early history of the region?
Local resident Margaret Baxter works tirelessly to ensure the coastal town’s history and its stories are preserved, valued and shared for years to come.
Born and bred in Busselton, Margaret’s family is one of the oldest in Cape Naturaliste. On retirement, Margaret turned her attention to her love of local history, inspired by her husband Peter’s parents, who started the original Cape Naturaliste Society. Margaret took over as Chair of the since renamed Dunsborough Historical Society.
She collects, archives, restores and displays historical documents and photographs. She administers the society’s website www.dunshistoricalsociety.com, is a guest speaker at various events, organises visits to regional heritage sites, and is currently fundraising for permanent premises for the society and its collection.
Megan Lawless, Administrator, Memories of Bunbury
Memories of Bunbury promotes the history, heritage and stories of Bunbury, including shared stories of Noongar country, Goomburrup. Megan Lawless has run the project for 10 years in a voluntary capacity.
Memories of Bunbury helps tell the history of Bunbury and its people through photos, stories and interviews. It connects with many local projects and people to promote local heritage.
A gifted storyteller, Megan makes history appealing to a wider audience, bringing together a strong community vocal about protecting, respecting and promoting local history.
Memories of Bunbury has become a well-known source of heritage information, using community input to answer history-related questions, and adding to storylines by connecting with families with original information and photographs.
It presents heritage in an appealing way, while also sharing the more serious and difficult stories of Bunbury's past.
