Thursday, 2nd October 2025 - Ariah Park

Today was 'Temora Day' and most of us headed off to Temora to visit both the Temora Rural Museum and the Temora Aviation Museum.

We were very impressed with the Rural Museum, one of the principal heritage exhibitions at the Temora Bundawarrah Centre.  What an extensive range of memorabilia: Sir Donald Bradman’s First Home (a meticulously reconstructed hardwood slab cottage where the cricket legend spent his early years); an Ambulance Museum (An impressive collection of vintage ambulances and medical transport history); a Rural Fire Service Museum (ditto the Ambulance museum); historical buildings (including a one-room public school, a bush church, a country dance hall, and a replica flour mill); Agricultural Machinery ( A vast assembly of restored tractors, stationary engines, and vintage vehicles, many maintained in working order); Jimmy Sharman Memorabilia (a dedicated display for the famous boxing promoter and showman); and a Rock and Mineral Display (The Athol Stean collection, featuring impressive specimens and a replica of the 'Mother Shipton' gold nugget).  Just excellent.....  Purchased a piece of Temora Green Stone for our rock collection.

Afternoon and one more museum - the Temora Aviation Museum.  The Museum was established in late 1999, based on the collection of 'warbird' aircraft owned by David Lowy. It's also home to the Air Force Heritage Squadron's Temora Historic Flight with aircraft that range from before World War II to the Vietnam War era.  

The town of Temora is notable in Australian aviation history. The Royal Australian Air Force set up the No. 10 Elementary Flying Training School here at the museum site in May 1941.  More than 10,000 personnel were involved in the school's operation, with more than 2,400 pilots being trained here.  At its peak the Training School had 97 de Havilland Tiger Moth aircraft for training purposes. 

Until today, we did not have a very favourable opinion of Temora.  Some years ago, we were travelling through this area and had a not-so-pleasant experience of a night in a Temora Hotel.  That's another story!

Our opinion has now changed.  An impressive town, an impressive community spirit and excellent museums.