MUSEUM AT SIMPSON

Work continues on the 8/13 VMR museum at Simpson Barracks, Watsonia. The installation team has been down and installed the Honour Wall. The team consisting of Robert Dawe, Graham Garvie, Kozzie Carey and Doug Hunter complete with two cars and trailers followed the loaded unit truck down and worked solidly for two days.

Before we started work. Doug Hunter, Robert Dawe and Graham Garvie standing against the wall where the prefabricated fixtures are to be installed.

Our earlier recce to take floor levels paid dividends. The prefabricated sections required only minor packing before they were fixed in place. Refurbishment of the building is still ongoing, so we were not able to fix the platforms along the end wall nor place the large cabinets in their final position. However, they are on site ready for our next visit scheduled for the end of the month.

Work in progress. Kozzie Carey and Graham Garvie with the first guidon case in place. It is amazing to see how good it looks considering it is all constructed out of second-hand and in many cases third-hand materials. A tribute to our workers.

Almost finished; skirting to be fixed and power boards installed. Cases will hold VMR flag, three guidons in centre group of cases and the end cabinet will hold gifts from affiliated regiments. These include a Crimea War busby, a silver rose bowl, an Hussar statuette and an LP record with regimental marches and messages from 8th Kings Royal Irish Hussars. Honour boards and colour patches of our precedent regiments will complete the wall. It should look stunning and honour all who served.

We are powering ahead at our Latchford Barracks workshop to have a full second load of fittings including the Kings Banners case, the Farriers Tool display and forge, and display cases, large and small ready, for uplift. With a bit of luck we might even have the horse and rider ready to go. December 8, the Unit’s Open Day, is still our scheduled opening day.