CWM visit

[easo]

G'day all, I put a bit of my time here at the Puckapunyal Tank Museum and for us a restoration of even a cosmetic standard takes a few years. They do get a lot of people who criticise the state or layout of some vehicles or displays, however maintaining a Museum is not high on Defences budget. At the end of the day we solider on and continue to maintain items, currently our Light Horse Rail Carriage is getting all of the attention.

I would like to visit the CWM one day. Any chance of some piccys for us who have never been???

My 2 cents, Easo

[Little Jo]

Hi Guys

Very interesting thread and some great comments. I thought that I would add my bit. I heard on the radio this morning after visiting my mate Salesman Bob, that the Federal Government have just announced they are giving $21 Million Dollars to the Canberra War Museum to upgrade their WW1 display. Sorry guys nothing for vehicles.

Cheers

Tony

[Ed Storey]

Chris, I certainly agree with your point that even when in a museum you have to be cautious of the accuracy of the material. I know that there is the common perception that what is presented in a museum is 100% accurate but unfortunately this is not the case as errors do crop up. The challenge is getting these errrors corrected.

With respect to your comment about the C15AA in the CWM collection, I agree that there are probably better C15TA restorations in public hands, but the C15AA on display is the only one of its kind and came from the John Marchant collection in England.

[Robin Craig]

Chris,

from the vantage point of my sandbag I think peoples comments have been very reasonable and that you should not take any offence ( I didnt think you had), this is a forum and we are kicking a subject around out in the open for all of us to comment on just the way the forum was intended to be used.

Kind of like "due process"

R

[chris vickery]

Originally Posted by Ed Storey

Chris, I certainly agree with your point that even when in a museum you have to be cautious of the accuracy of the material. I know that there is the common perception that what is presented in a museum is 100% accurate but unfortunately this is not the case as errors do crop up. The challenge is getting these errrors corrected.

Ed, you have summed up exactly my point, maybe a little more eloquently than myself.

Robin, no offense taken, of course, I appreciate a good debate.

[Mike Cecil]

Hi 'Little Jo'

Yes, the $21M for the WW1 displays will go a long way. The project has been underway for two years, with considerable planning already achieved. I think the $$ are to cover not only the displays, but some of the commemorations as well: the period 2014 to 2018 is going to be a busy one for the Australain War Memorial (so what's new? The soon to retire Director always had something happening) as the various centennials roll around.

The AWM has a reasonable WW1 vehicle collection, both horse drawn and mechanized, that has already seen many $$ spent on it.

As for the CWM, I seem to remember Jim W telling me that the lower floor of the new building was really a 'display-storage' area, with little work or presentation of the exhibits. So I gather they are presented 'warts and all', so to speak.

One of the most memorable exhibits I remember was a StugIII, blown to hell and unrestored (but conserved, no doubt). Excellent exhibit!

Mike C

[chris vickery]

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

As for the CWM, I seem to remember Jim W telling me that the lower floor of the new building was really a 'display-storage' area, with little work or presentation of the exhibits. So I gather they are presented 'warts and all', so to speak.
Mike C

Mike, that pretty much sums up what I am talking about....

[Bob Carriere]

The CWM is not on the priority list for government spending.....a lot of us would not have the patience to put up with the frustration that Jason has to endure. He and others in the Museum are doing the best they can with the little they have.

I don't always agree with what or how things have been displayed....and I have strong feeling about what they did to the Churchill.... but having said that.... how many of you remember the glorious days of the small Annex on Sussex drive..... for decades that is all Canada had to show about our valiant contribution to the war..... hulks of tanks were set on fire by kids who crawled in the inside...... the miniature japanese submarine that used to be stored in old stone structures (circa 1955)off Wellingtons street and where St Redempteur streets used to cross...... the roof collapsed and the upper hull dinged by the heavy roofing beams......that was the neighbourhood I grew up in

What we have is a tremendous improvement...... perfect no....but at least they are saving some equipment. To us self appointed experts there is always something that is not correct...... the color shade is wrong or the wrong period taillights were installed...... to 90% of the visitors it is awsome.
Who amongst us can swear to the accuray of what is displayed about the Great War... over the years details get lost in the shuffle of time..... what they depict is still a gruesome representation of what war was like.....

To today's generation of rice burners a big flat nosed CMP is just a brute. We are a dying breed that can actually talk about repairing them and still enjoy the primitive driving conditions

I drove my rolling chassis this weekend.....first time since New Years weekend snow outing....... it was invigorating !!!!!!

Bob

[Little Jo]

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

Hi 'Little Jo'

Yes, the $21M for the WW1 displays will go a long way. The project has been underway for two years, with considerable planning already achieved. I think the $$ are to cover not only the displays, but some of the commemorations as well: the period 2014 to 2018 is going to be a busy one for the Australain War Memorial (so what's new? The soon to retire Director always had something happening) as the various centennials roll around.

The AWM has a reasonable WW1 vehicle collection, both horse drawn and mechanized, that has already seen many $$ spent on it.

As for the CWM, I seem to remember Jim W telling me that the lower floor of the new building was really a 'display-storage' area, with little work or presentation of the exhibits. So I gather they are presented 'warts and all', so to speak.

One of the most memorable exhibits I remember was a StugIII, blown to hell and unrestored (but conserved, no doubt). Excellent exhibit!

Mike C

Hi Mike

You are right. It has been years since I last visited the CWA, the last time was for the Internment of the Unknown Soldier. I must make an effort to re visit again. The CWA has always been a fabulous place to visit and well worth the long drive from Adelaide. I must confess I made a mistake when I quoted the figure of $21 Million it was actually $27 Million, good injection of funds.

Cheers

Tony

[Dennis Gelean (RIP)]

The old Vimy House where big stuff was stored/displayed had Veterans as docents, one fine gentleman Was Capt. James Bond ret. (the real one).Gas warfare expert
the other old building had a a German air raid siren as named by the donor. My identical one is marked inside made by British boat works. who knows maybe they bought some from Britain? Think we have problems, the Canterbury NZ Museum closed due to Earthquake risk www.stuff.nz
How many beautiful collections are dismantled because we get old,sick or die
that is why we need young people introduced into our hobby