The popular attraction, which doubles as one of the town Men’s Sheds, has been awarded $1320, which will go towards a series of interpretive signs which explain some of their exhibits.
Museum secretary John Currie said the funding was the culmination of the hard work volunteers put into researching and applying for various grants.
‘‘Basically what we’re looking at getting are a number of professionally made panels which we will install around the museum,’’ Mr Currie said.
‘‘We do have temporary ones we had made ourselves, but we were always planning on having professionally made ones installed.’’
Members of the Men’s Shed and aviation museum made the decision to use a local firm to produce the new signs.
‘‘We want to support local business, so we have chosen the Broken River sign company, who operate out at Baddaginnie,’’ Mr Currie said.
‘‘The panels will have a photo of the exhibit that they are explaining and will include some history about it.
‘‘We also want to have a couple of signs made up, which will act as memorial boards for two of our members who passed away recently.
‘‘They have both been instrumental in getting the museum set-up and in creating some of our exhibits.’’
Mr Currie said the volunteers would now start researching what they wanted on the panels before sending the information over to Broken River Signs to be made up.
The museum expects the signs to be installed at some point in August.
‘‘I was quite surprised that the grant was approved so early,’’ Mr Currie said.
‘‘According to the grant program guidelines they were not going to be put into the system until June and the decisions would be made around September, so I was happy that we heard back so early.’’
Mr Currie said the museum was also due a few other upgrades.
‘‘We’ve got a few things coming up,’’ he said.
‘‘We’re waiting on the building permit for our shade sails to go up and we’re also waiting on some large-capacity display cabinets, which we’ve also got as part of a grant.
‘‘When it’s all complete we will have an event to show everything off.’’
In the meantime the organisation is also on the search for new volunteers.
‘‘We have been canvassing the community for people who might be interested in coming down and joining,’’ Mr Currie said.
‘‘We have members form as far as Albury and Mansfield and we just want to get a few more from the Benalla area.
‘‘If there are any men or women who might be interested in becoming involved that would be great.’’
●If you are interested in being part of the Aviation Museum, email John Currie at secretary@benallaaviationmuseum.org.au
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