General News
6 August, 2025
Recent achievements by JDHS
Much has been happening at the Jeparit and District Historical Society (JDHS) in recent months.
Much has been happening at the Jeparit and District Historical Society (JDHS) in recent months.The Society has existed since the 1970s but over the years membership had dwindled and it had become increasingly difficult to organise the vast collection of photographs, newspapers, records, maps and other documents which is housed at Jeparit’s Memorial Hall.
Mrs Wendy Zanker of Jeparit has been custodian of the collection and president of the Society for many years.
In recent decades volunteers with the Society have left the district or passed on so continuing their work had become more challenging.
All communities are suffering from a lack of volunteers, evidenced by a large number of clubs and service organisations folding.
However, most rural communities still have very active historical societies managed by committed volunteers with a passion for preserving historical records for future generations.
In this region there are dynamic societies at Rainbow, Hopetoun, Warracknabeal, Nhill, Dimboola and Kaniva as well as a number of other heritage bodies such as the Nhill Silo Heritage Project and the Wimmera Mallee Pioneer Museum at Jeparit and Yurunga Homestead at Rainbow.
There are other privately-run museums as well.
So there are still many people committed to organising and preserving the region’s history in different forms.
JDHS supporter Craige Proctor is president of the Western Victorian Association of Historical Societies as well as Chair of the Royal Historical Societies Support Committee.
With his experience in liaising with numerous historical societies, he has lent his support to revitalising the Jeparit group over the past two years.
“The Society has benefited greatly from generous funding by the Jeparit Township Advisory Committee and Hindmarsh Shire Council, with funds being provided to purchase essential archival storage material to protect vulnerable objects, especially photos and newspapers”, Craige says.
In addition, the Robert Menzies Institute in Melbourne funded at considerable expense a professional heritage consultant to conduct a survey of the Society’s collection and to train two historical society supporters in how to manage the collection.
In recent months, a number of enthusiastic supporters, including Gaye Golder, Debra Schumann and Teresa Smith, have been organising the collection under the guidance of Wendy Zanker.
“Once this valuable work was underway, it was time to provide the historical society with more of a profile in the wider community”, said Mr Proctor.
“Social media is the most efficient way of ‘flying the flag’ within a local community and the Society’s Facebook page has gained a considerable following.
People with connections to the district love seeing old photos and reading brief stories.”
A focus for the Society now is to attract membership and donations from the community.
Within just one week, the Society had gained around 15 members.
“We have been surprised by the number of people both locally and well beyond the district who have either taken out a membership or even made a generous donation to the Society.” said Mr Proctor.
“This is very encouraging as it doesn’t just provide additional funds to support the work of the Society but reflects that the community values the ‘quiet’ but essential work undertaken by historical societies.”
The Society can be contacted via its Facebook page or at jeparithistorical@gmail.com.
