Students bring Kwinana’s past to life

Shoppers will take a trip down memory lane next week with aspects of Kwinana’s history brought to the fore as part of a Historical Narrative of Kwinana exhibition on display at Kwinana Marketplace.

Gilmore College academic extension history students have been working in collaboration with several groups including the Kwinana Heritage Group, the Deadly Sister Girlz, Kwinana RSL, Kwinana State Emergency Service, police, the City of Kwinana, HMAS Stirling, the Education Department, and the World Ship Society, to research and create displays for the exhibition.

Displayed at Kwinana Marketplace from Wednesday, September 25, to Saturday, September 28 the students have gathered mannequins in costumes, museum objects of historical significance and info graphics to share Kwinana’s Aboriginal, defence, industry, maritime and government history.

The display will include sections dedicated to Smirks Cottage, the Kwinana Maternity Hospital, changes to Marketplace since it was built in the early 1970s and Kwinana’s first town planner Margaret Feilman.

History teacher Erin Albertini said the students had spent about two weeks conducting interviews and resources to compile into collections for display.

Ms Albertini said she was passionate about teaching students about local stories and the history behind their community.

“You will not uncover local stories just by going on Google,” she said. “We started with two areas of Kwinana’s history and it’s just absolutely exploded.”

“It’s really just about getting the students involved in giving a voice to the history of the local community.”

The exhibition will run from 10am to 5pm daily in the former ICE clothing store adjacent to the food court.