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Saturday, 17 July 2004 was a very special day for many friends, neighbours and residents of
Poatina's old Hydro days. It was a day to relive memories, laugh over classic stories and photos
of yesteryear, and simply reconnect with old mates.
Classic stories and funny memories of living in the Hydro Days
Newsletters in preparation for the event...
As a way of keeping people up to date with preparations for the "Back to Poatina"
event, we put together a couple of newsletters - click on them below to download.
Poatina today
Poatina today is called a "community of hope" as it brings together a superb tourist
venue, an employment programme and a spontaneous Village which believes "it takes a
community to raise a child".
The event coincided with Tasmania's Bicentenary year, an exciting time where the whole of our island
State celebrated. Every Tasmanian from every district and all walks of life, were
encouraged to consider what we could learn from the past and look forward.
The Hydro Electric Commission project at Poatina was an exciting capital development in Tasmanian
history. Thousands of people participated in the construction of this remarkable engineering feat,
and in so doing many lives were moulded, shaped and touched.
As an official event of Tasmania's Bicentennary Year, we reflected on the Village of Poatina and its
place in our nation's history. We unveiled a stunning recycled-glass brick Monument to celebrate the
hard-working souls who came from all over the world. We found data, stories of the enduring pioneers
and photos of the past and put them together into colourful Interpretative Panels that are now
available for viewing at Poatina's Chalet. It truly was a significant engineering feat.
Thank you to all those who contributed their precious memories, photos and memoriabilia which truly
added to the story and created a day for us all to step back in time, to reflect and gain a sense of
hope for tomorrow.
An invitation is extended to come and see what Poatina has become subsequently, as a place of tourism,
hospitality, training and vocational rehabilitation for 'at risk' young people.
For more information about Poatina today, or to add to this part of its Hydro history, contact the
Fusion Poatina office on 6397 8280, or email poatina@fusion.org.au.
Our Research Team made contact with numerous former residents, and
begun writing down some of their precious memories and life stories of Poatina days.
There are sure to be enough stories of life in Poatina to fill a book!
Click on the names below to read up on what these former residents remember
about Poatina.
Other former residents have written to us sharing snippets of their memories...
Joyce Keep... I remember Mrs McClelland was the Post Mistress. The original
mail delivery was on foot with a big bag. One of the first major deliveries was that of
electricity bills not too popular! Peter McCoy took over the mail delivery on a permanent
basis.
Louis Parskles... I came in 1962 from Greece, working in the tunnel. The
Village was full of new Australians. I had to learn to talk Australian and we had classes
in the Hall with Mrs Cameron.
Graeme Barwick... In the early 1960s I worked in the ANZ Bank in
Launceston. The local barber, a chap named Boon acted as our Savings Bank agent at
Poatina. I called on Mr Boon on a regular basis to replemish stationery and count his
cash float held on behalf of the ANZ Bank a whole £50!"
We still have a shoe box full of old black & white photocopies and prints at Poatina Chalet.
Come and drop in to relive the memories.
Click here to download February's pdf newsletter (338kb).
Click here to download April's pdf newsletter (416kb).
Click here to catch a glimpse of Poatina today.
The "Back to Poatina" event was proudly sponsored by the following organisations:
Through the Tasmanian
Bicentenary Grant Program.
Last Updated: Wednesday, 5 May 2010
Webmaster: RJK - Poatina