General News
24 June, 2026
Historical group urgently seeks members
MAINTAINING the recording of history and providing access for the public and history buffs is quickly becoming nigh on impossible for the few remaining active members of Mareeba Historical Society.
The local historical volunteer group has just six remaining active members who have been increasingly hard pressed as they endeavour to record information, filing and maintaining records and many other tasks that have made the society one of the envied local historical groups of the region.
“In a perfect world, we could do with up to 20 active volunteers, but with our greatly reduced numbers, those of us who remain have a significant amount of work ahead of us in order to keep the high standards that have made our volunteer group quite able and well known since our Centenary Park premises were officially opened in 2004,” secretary treasurer and long-serving facilitator Helen Kindt said.
“As it now stands, we have only six people, most of whom are of advancing age who are trying their best to cope with computer entry of relevant historical data, filing, responding to research requests and even greeting and assisting visitors.
“The reality is that a number of our remaining six volunteers often have to have time out for personal and medical reasons, and that means that sometimes those members can be away for weeks and even months in certain cases.
“Obviously, our required workload builds up and we are left in ‘catch up’ mode for significant amount of time.
“When active worker absences overlap up or run end to end, it becomes nigh on impossible to keep our centre and services operating even at a basic level,” Ms Kindt added.
“As a matter of security we require at least two people to be present when our premises are open.”
She said that with Mareeba’s 150th celebrations happening next year, the group expected that even more research and other demands will be placed on the society’s volunteers.
“We do not want to disappoint anyone, but the simple and hard truth is that we urgently require more active volunteers who can assist us to clear backlogs and attend to the many requests from local residents and interest groups and also from State, interstate and even at an international level,” Ms Kindt said.
“Every bit of assistance for our volunteer group will be greatly welcome and appreciated.
“This is a definite and urgent plea for help from anyone in our community who can volunteer to assist us in any way they can.”
Mareeba Historical Society can be contacted at the premises on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, and when Mareeba Lions Market Days are held, by e-mail on sec@mbahistsoc.org.au or by phoning 4092 3599.
