Outside The Ration Shed Museum … Cherbourg Elders Grace Stanley, Jeanette Brown, Ada Simpson and Sandra Morgan with Cherbourg mayor Ken Bone and His Excellency Paul de Jersey AC and his wife Kaye

April 28, 2015

Queensland Governor Paul de Jersey and his wife Kaye dropped in to visit Cherbourg and the nearby Shaftesbury College rodeo school during a whistlestop visit to the South Burnett on Tuesday.

The couple and their staff flew in on the government jet to Wondai airstrip before heading out to Cherbourg where they spoke to local councillors and visited The Ration Shed Museum.

This is the first official visit by His Excellency to Cherbourg following his appointment as State Governor last year.

Cherbourg Elders explained the history of the town to the Governor as he examined the Timeline display at the museum.

He also visited the new “Boys From Barambah” exhibition which highlights the contribution Aboriginal soldiers made to Australia’s war efforts.

As he left the museum, the Governor was presented with copies of  the Cherbourg history book, “On The Banks Of The Barambah”, and the recently published “Boys From Barambah”.

Cr Arnold Murray also issued the Governor with a “permit to leave” – a replica of the official 1950s  “Permit to be absent from this settlement” which Cherbourg residents formerly had to apply for and carry if they wanted to leave the old mission.

From Cherbourg, Governor de Jersey travelled to the nearby Rodeo School at Ficks Crossing to chat to students and teachers, and watch a demonstration of bull rides.

Ration Shed committee member and Cherbourg Elder Aunty Ada Simpson, right, explains the Timeline to Governor Paul de Jersey and his wife Kaye (Photo: Us Mob)
Governor Paul de Jersey signs the visitors’ book at The Ration Shed (Photo: Us Mob)
Governor Paul de Jersey receives his “permit” to leave Cherbourg from Cr Arnold Murray (Photo: Us Mob)

At The Barambah Rodeo School

Governor Paul de Jersey with school deputy principal Bevan Costello, left, and the eager students
The rodeo school combines traditional schoolwork with bull-riding … Governor Paul de Jersey watched the students put on a special display of their skills

 

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