30th March 2020

Our AGM was held on March 3. The new executive committee is as follows: President – Carolyn Cameron; Vice President – Ken Muller; Secretary – Bob Carr; Treasurer – Bob Carr and Museum Coordinator – Edith Dobbin.

We at the Museum would like to acknowledge and thank Edith Dobbin who has resigned from President’s role this year after first taking up the position in 2001. 18 years in the position is a wonderful commitment and the sign of real dedication to the job. Well done and we show our gratitude to you.

Stop press: As a result of the current health situation, the Federal and State governments have said we must close to further enhance social distancing. This we have done until further notice, no meetings or opening the Museum to the public.

On a more cheerful note we would like thank Mark Ensby from the Clarence Valley Council, for his work on the Stone Cottage, painting and repairs. It was due and we are pleased with the results. Well done.

Broom Making on the Lower Clarence: In 1927 on Palmers Island, Messrs. George Green and sons have a modern broom factory operating. They grow their own millet which takes approximately 4 months from planting to harvesting. It is cut and laid in field to dry and if wet, the millet is hung on wires in the shed to dry. It is then hackled by an 8 horsepower steam engine. The seed is packed into bags and sold to local poultry farmers. The millet is stacked a foot deep on benches for curing about 10 days. It is then stacked in bales on racks to await the broom making.

Ken Muller