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Eira Thompson's memories of living in a shop in McBride Avenue were a highlight of the
Wonthaggi Historical Society's 2026 15 Minutes of History talks.
By Catherine Watson
WONTHAGGI Historical Society’s 15 Minutes of History talks have taken out the Volunteer-run Project of the Year at the 2026 Victorian Museums and Galleries Awards.
A Bass Coast summer favourite, the home-grown series was recognised at a gala ceremony at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art last night.
This is no two-bit award for country bumpkins, this is the big time run by the Australian Museums and Galleries Association Victoria and Public Galleries Association of Victoria.
WONTHAGGI Historical Society’s 15 Minutes of History talks have taken out the Volunteer-run Project of the Year at the 2026 Victorian Museums and Galleries Awards.
A Bass Coast summer favourite, the home-grown series was recognised at a gala ceremony at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art last night.
This is no two-bit award for country bumpkins, this is the big time run by the Australian Museums and Galleries Association Victoria and Public Galleries Association of Victoria.
Other winners included the State Library of Victoria, the Shrine of Remembrance, The Art Gallery of Ballarat and the Ian Potter Museum of Art.
Society president Faye Quilford, who organises the talks with the secretary, Irene Williams, said it was a glittering occasion.
“When we saw the projects we were up against we thought we had no chance. We were shocked when they announced we had won.”
Society president Faye Quilford, who organises the talks with the secretary, Irene Williams, said it was a glittering occasion.
“When we saw the projects we were up against we thought we had no chance. We were shocked when they announced we had won.”
"Wonthaggi and District Historical Society achieved significant outcomes with very limited resources. Their creativity, passion and commitment shone through the nomination, making them a worthy winner of this category.”
Commendation, 2026 Victorian Museums and Galleries Awards
Or as long-time member Mark Robertson put it, “Done with a massive budget of zero dollars and no consultants.”
The talks, which started in 2022 as part of the council’s summer holiday program, explore the highways and the byways of Wonthaggi’s rich history.
The talks, which started in 2022 as part of the council’s summer holiday program, explore the highways and the byways of Wonthaggi’s rich history.
Not just the big events – the unions, the mine, the social history – but the sports clubs, the characters, the mishaps, the pubs, the myths and legends.The title says it all. 15 Minutes of History. Every day at 11.30am, in early January, someone gives a talk about an aspect of Wonthaggi’s history.
The particular charm of 15 Minutes of History is that once the presenter is finished, the audience has their go. It’s citizen history at its best. All of it is recorded and some of the sessions end up as stories in the society’s newsletter, The Plod.
Faye says the popularity of the talks has grown by word of mouth, with standing room only at many events.
“I think it’s because they’re quirky. Our presenters are passionate about their topic and that makes them eloquent. And it’s short and sharp. Start at 11.30am, finish at noon.”
The 2026 series included Wonthaggi cordial factories, the Wonthaggi shuttlecock factory, Eira Thompson’s childhood memories of living in a shop in McBride Avenue, the Amazon shipwreck and the Wonthaggi Seedbank.
The society nominated for the award at the 11th hour, thanks to the persistence of Jenny Churchill in writing the award application.
“You have to be able to use the right words and Jenny’s experience working at the shire council was really helpful.”
Today Faye was fielding the congratulatory calls but there is not much time for basking in the glory. Work has already begun on next summer’s series of talks.
“We’ve already got a double-sided sheet. We are definitely not going to run out of topics or speakers.”
The particular charm of 15 Minutes of History is that once the presenter is finished, the audience has their go. It’s citizen history at its best. All of it is recorded and some of the sessions end up as stories in the society’s newsletter, The Plod.
Faye says the popularity of the talks has grown by word of mouth, with standing room only at many events.
“I think it’s because they’re quirky. Our presenters are passionate about their topic and that makes them eloquent. And it’s short and sharp. Start at 11.30am, finish at noon.”
The 2026 series included Wonthaggi cordial factories, the Wonthaggi shuttlecock factory, Eira Thompson’s childhood memories of living in a shop in McBride Avenue, the Amazon shipwreck and the Wonthaggi Seedbank.
The society nominated for the award at the 11th hour, thanks to the persistence of Jenny Churchill in writing the award application.
“You have to be able to use the right words and Jenny’s experience working at the shire council was really helpful.”
Today Faye was fielding the congratulatory calls but there is not much time for basking in the glory. Work has already begun on next summer’s series of talks.
“We’ve already got a double-sided sheet. We are definitely not going to run out of topics or speakers.”
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