THE trustees of the War Memorial Education Centre have announced Moree and District Historical Society as the successful applicants for use of the southern section of the building (old library).
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But the decision has not come without controversy.
The three trustees who made the decision include James von Drehnen (council), Rebecca Langdon (education) and Claudia Gall (State Library).
Mr von Drehnen said expressions of interest were open to the community with the historical society and Moree RSL sub-branch returning as the front-runners.
However, difficulties ensued when the two groups could not come up with a solution to utilise the space together. As a result, the two groups were given 60 days and a template to submit an application for the use of the facility, and as a result the decision was made.
“The trust was put in a difficult position where it had to make a decision. Our preference was for them to work together but we had to make the call,” Mr von Drehnen said.
“We are dealing with a complex and outdated management structure but for the moment those are the rules we have to work with.”
The RSL sub-branch released a statement to say members were “saddened and extremely disappointed”.
John Tramby said during the end of World War Two a committee raised money to fund the memorial.
“Adding insult to injury the trust have offered us a small area in the corridor. I think there is a lack of understanding about the monetary value and the pricelessness of these family heirlooms,” Mr Tramby said. “People have a great deal of reluctance to leave these in others’ hands and would only do so if they were in a secure location.”
Mr von Drehnen said they compromised after making their decision to offer the RSL the foyer area.
“We’ve done all we can, fairly, to get a satisfactory resolution,” he said.
Historical society president, Stephen Ritchie, said the group “were happy they had won the legitimate tender process”.
The society plans to replicate their display hosted in the banquet hall during Moree’s sesquicentenary celebration.
“We had 2500 visitors in two weeks. After a week we started a petition for a museum and received over 1000 signatures in just one week,” Mr Ritchie said.
“This will be a great asset to our town. It will benefit our community and our tourism,” he said.
It is expected to take between three and six months for the display to be open to the public.