By Grace Frost
The Kilmore Mechanics’ Institute, KMI, is excited to announce a major community event in the pipeline for 2024, and is calling on Kilmore residents to collaborate.
Since first being established nearly 170 years ago and revived in the early 1990s, KMI has played a significant role in advocating for the Kilmore township through campaigns, events, exhibitions, workshops, and projects, including the annual Scaretactics.
The institute is now gearing up for one of its biggest events yet – the bicentennial celebration of explorers Hamilton Hume and William Hovell’s journey through the district in December, 1824.
The explorers led an expedition searching for new grazing land nearly 200 years ago from Appin, New South Wales to Point Wilson in Port Phillip Bay, and passed through the area.
KMI plans to commemorate the journey in 2024 in conjunction with the 100-year anniversary of the construction of the Hume and Hovell monument at Monument Hill Reserve, Kilmore.
The group will host its annual general meeting on Sunday and is eager to receive residents’ input and ideas regarding the planning and implementation of the 2024 celebration.
Engineer and researcher Ken McInnes will make a guest appearance at the meeting to provide people with information on Hume and Hovell’s expedition.
“This presentation will review the young explorers’ historic overland journey … their legacy … our current knowledge of extant primary historic resources and our need to reconcile this knowledge with the knowledge of First Nations people,” Mr McInnes said.
Copies of the maps used by the original explorers will also be available for viewing by the public.
The annual general meeting will start at 2pm at the Kilmore Soldiers Memorial Hall, followed by afternoon tea.
Kilmore Mechanics’ Institute spokesperson Leanne Stute said people of all ages were invited to ‘come and be a part of the institute’, first by getting involved at the annual general meeting before the major event in December next year.
“We want all community groups and everybody to be involved in making it happen,” she said.
Ms Stute said the events would allow the Kilmore community to engage with and get to know their town.
KMI is seeking sponsorships for the bicentennial event, with hopes to potentially fund light shows and displays, activities for children, a street parade, music and entertainment.
All community groups and businesses are encouraged to get involved to acknowledge the history of Kilmore with the best celebration possible.
To be involved or express interest, people can call Leanne Stute on 0408 166 088 and email lmarees27@outlook.com.
