During 2016 there was a lot of maintenance and adjustments as the Batchelor Museum gains more visitation and recognition.

Early on we received a Grant applied for to remove five Mahogany trees from the main garden area. These trees had grown during a period when the place was not being used, and they were taking over the area. As well they can be dangerous-two deaths in Darwin- and also a problem for the buildings.

It was decided to renovate the additional block building to provide for a café situation and also as a place to sell our cards, booklets etc. Two Tourism Grants allowed this and contractors did the trade parts. However the organisation (Jan) and the transport (James with his truck) plus other manual jobs and purchasing in Darwin was a big factor for the volunteers.

It did enable us to cater for several groups who came by bus from Darwin and required morning teas. However it is not the intention that it be volunteer-based in the future.

In late March two couples arrived to assist with the opening of the Museum for the tourist season. Bill and Cheryl came for 6 weeks, during which the couples could cover all the Museum hours as well as assist with the on-going projects. Terry and Cheryl stayed on until early September, and locals cover the two days each week when they have respite.

Apart from all the regular duties Cheryl re-covered a number of donated chairs; Terry built the counter for the café, as well as built in shelves in each of the two Museum buildings to enable visual material from our collection to be shown in 2017.

A very tall donated bookshelf was strengthened, painted, and covers a wall in the café. Second hand books are displayed, as well as local craft items. A volunteer, Prue, takes a large selection of the books to the Market each month and raises funds for the Museum.

Terry and James contrived a display system for 12 posters of WWII-previously produced by the Education Department. Permission was sought to scan and display. Also in WWII more pictures with text depicting the Aboriginal involvement in WWII were added. There are two new larger panels and five panels pending in the main WWII areas.

Relatives of men and women who served in this area find it very emotional to see the display, and our visitor’s book has comments relating to this. Also some visitors have donated small items and photographs for display.

In the Aboriginal area there has been additions to display items and also new panels. Two very pictorial panels depict life at Meneling for Ros Jones (nee Sargent) with the Aboriginal Muk Muk group who lived and worked there-so involved in the Rum Jungle story.

In another area stories of the traditional people- Kungarakan and Warrai –are being developed. A lot of time and research has gone into the panel about Alyandabu and her legacy. This panel will be mounted this month- January 2017.

There were several panels added to the social life display in the Rum Jungle area, as well as small adjustments to the room which shows the original lay-out of the individual bedrooms. A sewing machine is in the lounge area of the ladies quarters similar to the one they purchased to make curtains -Joan Whitcher supplied that information.

A big thank you to our committee- Treasurer Carol. We have to report to the Australian Charities Commission (ACNC) each year after the accounts are audited so the job is demanding. Jan acquits Grants but the treasurer has to get the allocations correct for our report-much more complex these days. Denise, Manager of volunteers, bookings, communications with Grey Nomads etc; James- transporter, fixer and manufacturer of many things, Sue-volunteer recruitment and helper; Richard, assistant in projects and liaison re WWII contacts.

Ros continues to be a conduit for communications with Rum Jungle people and her contacts enable questions to be answered. Bruce has wound down his considerable physical involvement due to ill health. We are also appreciative of Museum supervisors Sean and Rex.

Visitation increased markedly in 2016 and we anticipate it will increase again this year. We have exposure through our membership of Tourism Top End, and also NT Tourism has been expanding advertising about our area.

Denise and Jan present our product to other operators at the annual Trade meeting and for this year the committee committed to paid advertising in a booklet distributed in venues across Darwin.

There is also a large number of people coming to Darwin for the 75^th anniversary of the Bombing of Darwin on February 19, 1942 and we will open especially to enable those visitors to have the opportunity to visit around that date

Jan Hills     President and Curator.