Our Heritage - "Back to the Bay" 2005

The 2005 "Back to the Bay" Heritage Festival and "Catho Classics" Film Festival, was another successful celebration of the Bay's heritage and sense of community.

Coinciding with the 60 th anniversary of the end of WWII, the theme of both festivals was "The Bay at War", with the focus on a highly-secret radar station built in bushland near the Bay's earliest mining village, known as Mine Camp (which is now derelict). The radar station was a key part of the defence of Eastern Australia .

The Bay's DVD production for the Festival, "The Bay at War", featured people who served at the radar station and who lived in Mine Camp, or whose families were miners at the settlement.

The Progress Association is grateful for the co-operation and support of Eric Manning, of Hamilton (NSW), for making available his often rare collection of information and photographs of the radar station which formed the basis of both a static display and the Heritage Office's decision to include the Radar Station on the State Heritage Register.

Alex Compton and Norm Charlton, led heritage walks of Mine Camp, which they knew well. Elayne Kelly (of Business and Office Solutions, www.thebos.biz , provided willing and timely secretarial services, and Melissa Cleary, then a final year Communication Student at Newcastle University, provided organizational assistance and a professionally impressive review of the Festival's planning, execution and improvement. The Bowling and Surf clubs permitted the Festival to use their facilities.

Victoria Barracks Military Museum and East Lakes Historical Society and Museum provided fascinating displays which captivated hundreds of people during the day.

Photos below show the heritage walks, with more than 100 people participating in the walks.