Time may be up for the Gin Gin Neighbourhood Centre but a precious time capsule buried in the foyer of the Centre has been safely retrieved.
Pending demolition of the Centre raised concerns regarding the time capsule which was sealed in 1979 to mark the centenary of Kolan Shire.
Divisional representative Cr Wayne Honor was present as the capsule was uncovered this week.
Also present was Herb Aulfrey, a Council grader driver in 1979 and the man who applied the concrete covering to seal the capsule.
Council staff were able to remove concrete around the cap sealing the capsule and screw off the threaded brass cap to ensure the contents were intact.
Cr Honor said a quick visual inspection confirmed the integrity of the documents which were not removed from the capsule.
“Our plan is to reseal the cannister and keep it safe until 2079 which is the time it is scheduled to be opened,” he said.
“It was great that we could have Herb here to assist in providing information about the capsule and how it was buried.”
Cr Honor said additional work was required to remove the entire capsule.
“It certainly was well embedded, and it was somewhat of a task to free the capsule for removal,” he said.
Gin Gin Service Centre staff member Amber Larsen said she had a special interest in the capsule as she had contributed some content in 1979.
“It was the year I was married, and I wrote a little about my husband Ron and our families,” she said.
“It’s interesting to have some association with the capsule now because I certainly won’t be around in another 59 years to see it opened.
“I am sure residents in 2079 will be interested to see it eventually opened and to examine what was placed in there 100 years ago.”
The Neighbourhood Centre will be demolished in coming days with the centre’s raft of activities now incorporated in the new $2.78 million community hub which fronts Dear Street.
The new community hub has been delivered with grant assistance from the Federal Government ($1.4 million) and the State Government ($833,870).
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