General News
16 June, 2025
Preserving Jeparit's past
The Jeparit Historical Society is continuing its long-standing mission to preserve the district’s history, thanks to the efforts of dedicated locals, expert support and recent funding boosts.
Formed around 1974, the Society once thrived with active members collecting and managing historical photographs, documents, and minute books.
However, like many similar groups, its membership declined in recent years.
Jeparit’s Wendy Zanker has long served as president and passionate custodian of the collection, supported by secretary and treasurer Teresa Smith.
In 2023 and 2024, the society received a vital boost when the Menzies Institute at the University of Melbourne funded a heritage consultant, Dr Tim Sullivan, to survey the collection and advise on preservation strategies.
One of the Society’s most fragile holdings is its full collection of original Jeparit Leader newspapers, which have never been digitised or microfilmed.
The Society fears that these could be lost permanently unless steps are taken to preserve them, although digitisation remains beyond their current financial reach.
In 2024, the Hindmarsh Shire Council and the Jeparit Township Advisory Committee provided grants to assist the Society in purchasing archival storage materials.
This long-term preservation project now depends heavily on local volunteers.
The Society’s extensive archive is housed on the upper floor of the heritage-listed Jeparit Soldiers’ and Citizens’ Memorial Hall.
A newly created Facebook page has helped promote the Society’s work and engage both current and former residents. The online platform has sparked greater public interest and led to an increase in family history enquiries.
To guide future development, the Society has welcomed the leadership of Craige Proctor, a Jeparit resident and President of the Western Victorian Association of Historical Societies.
As Chair of the Royal Historical Society of Victoria’s support committee, Mr Proctor is helping implement best-practice strategies, starting with a full inventory of the collection.
The Society continues to call on local volunteers, highlighting that a range of skills, from organising photos to database management, can make a big difference.
In May, members met with the Hindmarsh Shire Youth Council to inspire young people to take part in preserving the region’s past.
With nearby towns like Rainbow, Nhill, Warracknabeal, Hopetoun and Dimboola also running historical societies, Mr Proctor believes in the power of collaboration.
“Being part of a network allows us to share skills and lighten the load,” he said.
Community heritage is everyone’s story, and we just need people to help tell it.”