Community & Business
3 February, 2025
Time capsule takes us back to 2000
The chance discovery of a plaque at the Cambooya Recreation Grounds has allowed Cambooya district residents to discover the contents of a time capsule buried on Australia Day in 2000.
The contents of the time capsule were revealed during the Cambooya Australia Day celebrations on Sunday.
Sadly, most of the contents had been damaged by the elements over the past quarter of a century and were in varying states of decay.
What had been buried included newspapers, school newsletters and annual reports from Cambooya, Ramsay, Emu Creek and Greenmount state schools, “Weeds of the Eastern Darling Downs Uplands” and a newsletter from the Hodgsonvale Community Sports Club.
The time capsule had been buried bordering the fence at the entrance to the grounds on Lucy Street, covered by a large concrete slab placed in front of the plaque.
Upon the recent discovery of the plaque, which said the time capsule was to be opened in 25 years, the person who discovered it contacted Toowoomba Regional Council.
Cr Carol Taylor sprung into action, coordinating with TRC Community Development Officer Kate Tawns to make sure the time capsule could be opened at the Australia Day festivities.
Many of the people involved with the time capsule’s burial have since died or moved elsewhere, however quite a few were able to be contacted in time to attend the unveiling, including Iris Bryce, who helped place the time capsule in the ground alongside her father Alan Bryce, and Peter Free, the son of the Cambooya Shire Mayor at the time Bob Free.
Cr Taylor told the crowd plans are now being developed to create a time capsule to be buried at the 2026 Australia Day awards which would be opened in 25 years’ time, 2051.
