Rotary remembers John Meyers

CRAIG WINTER

THE Rotary Club of Maryborough City recently celebrated the life of John Meyers, founder of the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum who passed way in September last year.

One time Rotarian, John dedicated his retirement to building what is considered to be the best collection of militaria outside the Canberra War Memorial.

The collection is now valued at over $18m, and features some of the rarest and most sought after pieces in the country.

The museum houses a VC awarded to Lieutenant (later Major) Herbert James, 4th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment for gallantry at Gully Ravine, Cape Helles, Gallipoli on 28th June and 3rd July 1915.

It is one of only 39 VC’s for the Gallipoli campaign and the only one in Australia outside the Australian War Memorial.

Johns widow, Else, attended the dinner event where long time friend and ex-Police Crash Forensics Officer in Charge Steve Webb shared stories about how the collection had grown over the years.

Museum Chairman Greig Bolderrow paid homage to John and Else’s partnership, that has culminated in the museum being dedicated to, and held in trust for, the people of Maryborough.

The couples’ generosity gives Maryborough one of the most significant tourist attractions in Australia.