State Coal Mine rescue station. Drawing by Dennis Leversha
By Carolyn Landon
DENNIS Leversha’s final project was a small booklet published at the end of 2024 by the Wonthaggi Historical Society. Its title is History of the Rescue Station, State Coal Mine, Wonthaggi. On its cover is a beautiful and accurate drawing of the rescue station as it looked in 1975, a bit worn with sagging doors and broken windows.
That drawing was a testament to the fine lines of the old building, but also a possible acknowledgement that it, too, would go the way of the great No. 5 Brace structure that was the centre of the State Coal Mine project and still visible to this day but barely standing.
DENNIS Leversha’s final project was a small booklet published at the end of 2024 by the Wonthaggi Historical Society. Its title is History of the Rescue Station, State Coal Mine, Wonthaggi. On its cover is a beautiful and accurate drawing of the rescue station as it looked in 1975, a bit worn with sagging doors and broken windows.
That drawing was a testament to the fine lines of the old building, but also a possible acknowledgement that it, too, would go the way of the great No. 5 Brace structure that was the centre of the State Coal Mine project and still visible to this day but barely standing.
Dennis's booklet, however, is testament to the survival and new life of that small and now beautifully renovated rescue station. In it, he lists different ways the community attempted to use the old building: in the 1970s the Wonthaggi Lions Club had plans to create a historical park and use the rescue station as a visitors centre; in the1980s the fire brigade trained in the smoke tunnel until they purchased their own smoke machine; and finally, most importantly, in the 1990s, Wendy Crellin, then a shire councillor, worked with Parks Victoria to “make the Rescue Station serviceable for any interested user group.”
The Bass Coast Chorale, one of many groups to perform in or at the rescue station.
In fact, as a councillor and a member of the State Coal Mine Advisory Group, Wendy had already had a hand in rescuing several heritage-listed buildings under her stewardship – Wonthaggi’s post office, court house, and the goods shed behind the railway station.
Wendy is a third-generation Wonthaggian. Following in her father’s footsteps, her instinct has always been to serve the community. Her father, Allan “Tiger” Opie, had followed in his father’s footsteps into the Wonthaggi mine when he was 14 years old. He eventually became an important leader of the union in Wonthaggi, “a person of interest to ASIO” and, later with Wendy’s mum, Catherine, a community leader in Melbourne’s northern suburbs eventually receiving an Order of Australia Medal for his work there.
As a child, Wendy loved regularly taking the train with her family to Wonthaggi to visit her grandfather who lived on Dunn Street and who Wendy would find in the “poorly lit lounge in front of an open fire smoking his pipe.” Possibly inevitably, Wendy found herself moving back to Wonthaggi as a registered nurse, having married the newly appointed doctor/surgeon and thus she became known as Wendy Crellin, Doctor’s wife, rather than Wendy Opie, miner’s granddaughter. She quickly became an activist in the community she had known and loved all her life.
In January of this year, 2025, Wendy was encouraged to give a 15-minute talk about her connection to the rescue station as part of the Historical Society’s summer series. What follows here is her story, but of course Dennis was part of that story.
Wendy is a third-generation Wonthaggian. Following in her father’s footsteps, her instinct has always been to serve the community. Her father, Allan “Tiger” Opie, had followed in his father’s footsteps into the Wonthaggi mine when he was 14 years old. He eventually became an important leader of the union in Wonthaggi, “a person of interest to ASIO” and, later with Wendy’s mum, Catherine, a community leader in Melbourne’s northern suburbs eventually receiving an Order of Australia Medal for his work there.
As a child, Wendy loved regularly taking the train with her family to Wonthaggi to visit her grandfather who lived on Dunn Street and who Wendy would find in the “poorly lit lounge in front of an open fire smoking his pipe.” Possibly inevitably, Wendy found herself moving back to Wonthaggi as a registered nurse, having married the newly appointed doctor/surgeon and thus she became known as Wendy Crellin, Doctor’s wife, rather than Wendy Opie, miner’s granddaughter. She quickly became an activist in the community she had known and loved all her life.
In January of this year, 2025, Wendy was encouraged to give a 15-minute talk about her connection to the rescue station as part of the Historical Society’s summer series. What follows here is her story, but of course Dennis was part of that story.
| “In 2009,” she begins, “the SCM Central Area including the rescue station was registered on the Victorian Heritage Register. This was followed by a structural report and audit on the rescue station. In 2010 we signed a lease and we registered with the Australian Charities in order to gain tax-deductibility and then began fund raising by launching the “Buy-a-Brick” appeal, which generated thousands of dollars, and we are still selling bricks. |  Artists dig in on Rescue Station Nov 21 2015 - BACKERS of Wonthaggi’s Rescue Station arts centre are showing the same staunchness as the town’s miner forebears. By Colin Billington |
“We called ourselves Rescue Station Arts and were invited to present our project at the Parks Victoria Inaugural International Congress, Healthy Parks, Healthy People. We were amongst 510 presenters from all over the world and were one of only two community organisations represented. Our standing with Parks Victoria jumped up a notch.
“From then on, we sought funding wherever we could find it: Festivals Australia for a Pit Pony Festival; then a Dance to the Rescue festival which included three days of workshops, including master classes for teachers of dance; then a May Day luncheon celebrated with members of the miners union, old miners, state and federal Labour politicians, Friends of SCM, Historical Society and community members with Sam Gatto giving a brilliant history lesson to all 60 people present. Our much-loved pastry chef, Philippa Sibley, launched our heritage cookbook, which sold out on the night and which is still available for anyone who wants it – signed, of course.
“In 2011 we started Make, Bake, Create Community Market, and began weekly after-school art classes. On top of that Onyx Players put on a performance of Little Red Riding Hood. We organised Antique Road Show, a wine tasting workshop, and an inaugural art exhibition, including sculpture and photography.
“In 2012 we had a Plant the Seed weekend of workshops for community to experience different art forms from photography, pottery and fine arts to woodwork, tie-dying, music and dance. Of course, Dennis and Bev Leversha were integral participants in all the arts effort.
“In 2011 we started Make, Bake, Create Community Market, and began weekly after-school art classes. On top of that Onyx Players put on a performance of Little Red Riding Hood. We organised Antique Road Show, a wine tasting workshop, and an inaugural art exhibition, including sculpture and photography.
“In 2012 we had a Plant the Seed weekend of workshops for community to experience different art forms from photography, pottery and fine arts to woodwork, tie-dying, music and dance. Of course, Dennis and Bev Leversha were integral participants in all the arts effort.
The Wonthaggi Citizens Band
“And then everything stopped! The main drain overflowed into our building, a torrent of dirty drain water inundated the entire building and created significant damage to the building and contents.
“After the clean-up the rescue station was finally deemed a public building, and the committee was required to gain a certificate of occupancy, something that had been overlooked by the powers that be for years. This requirement took many years to solve as one problem after another was uncovered. Nevertheless, we continued with our monthly meetings and eventually we re-opened the big doors to a much-improved building and our task ahead was to resume our program and bring back the community.
“After the clean-up the rescue station was finally deemed a public building, and the committee was required to gain a certificate of occupancy, something that had been overlooked by the powers that be for years. This requirement took many years to solve as one problem after another was uncovered. Nevertheless, we continued with our monthly meetings and eventually we re-opened the big doors to a much-improved building and our task ahead was to resume our program and bring back the community.
Lisa Kane works the clay at the recue station studio. “In 2018 we opened a pottery centre. We gratefully accepted second-hand kilns and wheels and managed to appoint a skilled tutor, who turned out to be the experienced and relaxed Alan Whitmore. Soon, enthusiastic students were enrolled in both weekly day and evening sessions, and there is still great demand for both sessions. Community potters attend these sessions and work alongside NDIS participants and their carers, as well as with Wonthaggi Secondary College students and the Bass Coast Artist Society potters. It’s a popular, creative and happy studio, and there is always music to be heard.
“Dennis and Bev Leversha, both very well-known and loved ceramicists, were instrumental in establishing the ceramics studio. Within a year, an international artist, Varuni, was in residence at the studio and an exhibition was held of the works created during her visit. This was an important asset to our community and region.
“Dennis and Bev Leversha, both very well-known and loved ceramicists, were instrumental in establishing the ceramics studio. Within a year, an international artist, Varuni, was in residence at the studio and an exhibition was held of the works created during her visit. This was an important asset to our community and region.
After-school art classes for students have been a hit.
“In 2019, we hosted a performance of Tibetan music by Raga Shambalya. The performers had seen our building featured in the RACV journal and thought it would be a perfect venue. It was an outstanding cultural experience. The group left Wonthaggi to play at Carnegie Hall. What a privilege it was for us!
“In March 2020, all workshops and activities were suspended due to the Corona Virus pandemic!!!
“However, in November of that year, the ‘lockdown’ was lifted, and we were able to hold the Joyous Christmas Tree Project as a community celebration, a project/event that involved more than 40 community artists and 80 raw wooden trees for the artists to express their experiences of 2020 through creative design storytelling. Opening night was memorable and emotional for this was the first occasion for the community to come together in nine months. The Bass Coast Chorale had the tears spilling into our masks as they walked into the large room singing Christmas Carols.
“Ballet Barre Exercises for Seniors began [under the care of Wendy, herself a dancer whose training began when she was a teenager]. It was offered under the Open Access program in July 2021 and the numbers grew rapidly, especially following on from an article in the Age Newspaper and later a feature on both channels 9 & 7 followed by a recent ABC Back Roads program covering Bass Coast that featured the rescue station ballet dancers!
“In March 2020, all workshops and activities were suspended due to the Corona Virus pandemic!!!
“However, in November of that year, the ‘lockdown’ was lifted, and we were able to hold the Joyous Christmas Tree Project as a community celebration, a project/event that involved more than 40 community artists and 80 raw wooden trees for the artists to express their experiences of 2020 through creative design storytelling. Opening night was memorable and emotional for this was the first occasion for the community to come together in nine months. The Bass Coast Chorale had the tears spilling into our masks as they walked into the large room singing Christmas Carols.
“Ballet Barre Exercises for Seniors began [under the care of Wendy, herself a dancer whose training began when she was a teenager]. It was offered under the Open Access program in July 2021 and the numbers grew rapidly, especially following on from an article in the Age Newspaper and later a feature on both channels 9 & 7 followed by a recent ABC Back Roads program covering Bass Coast that featured the rescue station ballet dancers!
Wendy Crellin and the Wonthaggi Corps de Ballet
“Another, surprising and very successful recent venture is the “Wonni Olive Press”. Local couple Liane Arno and Matt Stone imported a state-of-the-art olive press they had seen when they were in Italy and have offered to house it in the rescue station where the community can bring their ripe olives straight off the tree for pressing. The committee had no idea how it would work, but this beautiful machine has spat out the pips and pressed the good oil, free of charge.
Matt Stone and Angela Christa process the harvest.
“This is just another successful venture where community comes together and generously shares another new art form.
“So, pull everything together, open doors, welcome all; our building belongs to the people,” says Wendy. “One final thing that will happen soon is a naming of the arts area in the Rescue Station after Dennis Leversha, for without his generosity and talent, it may never have come about.”
Information in this essay is from Dennis Leversha, Liane Arno and Wendy Crellin, It was first published in The Plod, the newsletter of the Wonthaggi & District Historical Society.
“So, pull everything together, open doors, welcome all; our building belongs to the people,” says Wendy. “One final thing that will happen soon is a naming of the arts area in the Rescue Station after Dennis Leversha, for without his generosity and talent, it may never have come about.”
Information in this essay is from Dennis Leversha, Liane Arno and Wendy Crellin, It was first published in The Plod, the newsletter of the Wonthaggi & District Historical Society.