It was a packed house on Saturday as invited guests gathered to watch the premiere screening of 'This Eden', a film produced by the Eden Killer Whale Museum to promote the town to visitors, and the work done by Eden's leading visitor attraction.
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A publicly owned facility managed by a small but enthusiastic voluntary committee, the Eden Killer Whale Museum has been extensively upgraded and expanded in the last 20 years.
It can proudly promote its facility, collections and people that preserve and archive the history of the south coast of NSW, and does so through the video.
The 35-minute video produced by Adele Video Production is a mesmerising blend of spectacular scenery, tales of whaling and the Killers of Eden, the museum built to preserve the memory of the killer whale loved by a community, the rise and fall of colonial entrepreneurs, the local Yuin people, and today's annual whale migration on the Humpback Highway.
Look past the film's spectacular location footage and another fascinating story about the Eden Killer Whale Museum is unveiled of the work done to archive, preserve and tell the stories of the 20,000 items held in the museum's diverse collection.
Volunteer committee member Jenny Drenkhahn said including that insight was deliberate.
"I really wanted to get the bit in about the work done behind the scenes by collections manager Jody White. When people come in here they need to understand why you don't see grandma's tea pot every time you come in, because its off having a rest," Mrs Drenkhahn said.
The library and archives are popular sources of information for researchers and those seeking to uncover their family history.
Collections manager Jody White explains what happens to donated items.
"We take a visual record of the object, and we track its condition over time to see if there are any condition issues.
"Every object that comes in is given its own individual number.
"The condition of the object, who owned it, who donated it, what it was used for, are all recorded.
"There are around 20,000 items in the collection and on the database. Without the database it would be tricky to find one object."
The museum has a unique link with the Magnet newspaper, as they collect historical and current editions.
They also collect history as it happens now, like memorabilia from every Royal Australian Navy ship that comes into Twofold Bay to use the navy multipurpose wharf facility.
Theater-goers on Saturday loved the screening and loudly applauded the film.
Councillor Sharon Tapscott bought copies of the DVD, now on sale in the museum's gift shop.
"I was so impressed by the film I'm going to take it up to Council and play it for the councillors," Mrs Tapscott said.
In a fitting finale, guests adjourned to the deck for a barbecue in the sun, as whales put on a spectacular display, breaching repeatedly out to sea.
