Community & Business
19 May, 2024
Army Museum honours Bawden family
Oakey’s Australian Army Flying Museum Driveway has been re-named Bawden Boulevard in honour of long time Museum volunteers Barry and Helen Bawden.
Barry and Helen were involved with the Museum for over two decades, when Barry was a tour guide and kept the Museum clean.
Helen served as Secretary of the Museum of Army Flying Board of Management for over 20 years.
Helen said it was a humbling experience to be recognised as volunteers by the group.
“We are very proud and very honoured to be recognised for our volunteer work,” she said.
“Thank you to the Army Aviation Association Inc. for recognising the volunteer work that Barry and I did.”
The museum had its humble beginning in a single room at the Army Aviation Base in the mid 1980s with Terry Egan as the curator.
In the early years, the museum didn’t have possession of any aircraft however, there was a number of aircraft at Oakey ‘strategically located’
In August 2005, the museum moved into a new purpose-built facility on the airfield at Oakey.
The new museum complex was officially opened on 2nd September 2005 by then local MP Ian Macfarlane.
From its humble beginning the museum has continued to grow and now houses 22 aircraft on display within the museum and a number of aircraft undergoing restoration and in storage.
The museum also includes a memorabilia room displaying objects and relics of significance from World War 1 through to current conflicts.
Today, the Museum is open to the public on Wednesdays to Saturdays from 10am to 3pm.
The guest book shows visitors travel to see it!
