BEMPS clubrooms launched for 50th birthday

PICTURE yourself hosting a milestone birthday party. Now imagine officially opening your home to the public for the first time and coordinating a rally on that same day.

That’s what Ballarat Engine and Machinery Preservation Society did on Sunday when they celebrated their 50th year, held the Best of Ballarat Rally, showcasing historical engineering of the region and beyond, and launched their new clubrooms up at the Ballarat Airport.

The newly refurbished Airport Hut 48, dating back to World War Two, was officially opened as BEMPS new community space by Federal Member for Ballarat, Catherine King.

She was honoured to be involved and to see the “incredibly important” work the club has done, preserving the history of manufacturing in the region, for the enjoyment of everyone.

“It’s my great pleasure to open the clubrooms,” she said. “It’s a terrific place to display the preservation work the club’s done.

“It’s a place of learning to bring school children through to show them part of our manufacturing history.”

President Peter Bandy wanted to highlight and pay respect to the local people that originally produced the historical machinery his social, family orientated group has a passion for.

“Thousands and thousands of workers of Ballarat slaved away on Monday mornings, picked up tools they could hardly hold because they were frozen, or on the other side, when we got such stinking hot summers, those same people would be leaning over a furnace,” he said.

“That was all to make the wonderful products that have Ballarat, Victoria on them, and that’s why our club is formed.”