Why A Festival?

Why do we have a festival in Mt Kembla?

To many, our festival may seem the only thing our committee does every year… nothing could be further from the truth…in fact our list of significant achievements is very long since our formation in 2001, to commemorate the centenary of the Mt Kembla Mine Disaster of 1902

Today we play a very active and significant role as part of the many layers that form a small community such as Mt Kembla

One of our major concerns is the appropriate recognition and marking of the very significant Old Mt Kembla Mine Site, which seems to stand guard over the history/heritage of the region like an ancient sentinel. It needs revitalising and our group, together with several other stakeholders such as NPWS, Mt Kembla Mine Memorial Pathway Group, WCC, Dendrobium Mine/Illawarra Coal and NSW Heritage …....are undertaking the diverse and involved task to begin to do just that.

We envisage the Mine Memorial Pathway will become a link to the old Mt Kembla mine site area which hopefully in the future, will link to a heritage walking/mining heritage trail.

A key activity and objective for the group is the development and promotion of the region via community business partnering and the promotion of social responsibility. This initiative is undertaken and presented at our annual festival and highlights the work of successful community business partnering.

There are several additional significant sites such as Windy Gully Cemetery and Soldiers & Miners Memorial Church and cemetery, the appropriate marking of Soldiers Rd. (now Harry Graham Dr) and the various additional, above ground evidence of a previous life in the region

Our intention is to see a mining heritage interpretive centre established in Mt Kembla adjacent to a Local History & Family History centre.…many, many hundreds of hours have been spent by our team of community volunteers, researching historical documents, items & photographs and collecting, managing and housing that collection, which will enable us to develop, write and publish interpretive material, ranging from local aboriginal history to first white settlers, the region’s pastoral settlement, mining history, war service records and family history….

Without visual aids such as photographs and relevant items, few visitors would be aware or could only conceive (in viewing what remains today) of the diversity of trades, activities and skills that were practised here in Mt Kembla from the early 1800’s

People from all over the world recognise the importance of small communities and their place in the history of the nation.

In our research and history collection we have witnessed people of all ages interacting with one another – helping us to create a sense of well being, belonging and social cohesion. Community pride has been strengthened; youth have learned from the aged and the aged from youth… total enjoyment for all and community pride is increased and respected.

Our motto: - “the past we inherit - the future we build” encapsulates entirely what we are about

Heritage studies from our beginning in 2001 both mining & social have unearthed a treasure-trove of local & regional, industrial & social history, which illuminates a foundation of physical & cultural heritage, hard won by the founders of the local area. This foundation was laid down with great hardship and sacrifice.

The builders of the Mt Kembla area were no ordinary people; they set a high standard in the feeling and spirit of community. We should do no less.

Cate Stevenson OAM
Chairperson
July 2007