Active Chairman Doug Cross was re-elected, as was Secretary Mary Sillince and Historian Chris Peters.

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Jenny Gray remains as Treasurer.

The committee welcomed a new Deputy Chairman, Noel Shang, who brings to the table many areas of expertise in the field of local history and documentation.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr Cross outlined the many achievements of the Tomaree Museum over the past two months, including the decision to bring the Port Stephens Historical Society under the umbrella of the TMA and welcomed their members into the Association.

“We have an excellent committee moving forward with the aim to establish a regional museum,” Mr Cross said.

“The museum will be designed to acknowledge the original presence and contribution of the Worimi people along with the achievements of those who followed to pioneer the district including oyster farmers and the fishing industry, to name a few.”

TMA has mounted several successful exhibitions at the Port Stephens Visitor Information Centre including the Lighthouses of Port Stephens, the Bidhiinja Oyster Reef exhibition and the 1924 ANZAC exhibition.

The Lighthouses of Port Stephens exhibition, held last August, was supplemented with well-attended talks on the subject.

More local history presentations, organised to inform the community, will be planned for the future.

In collaboration with the Australian National Maritime Museum and NSW Department of Primary Industries Fisheries, TMA was honoured to sponsor the inaugural launching of Bidhiinja, a touring exhibition showcasing the history of oyster reefs in New South Wales and the work currently underway to restore these important ecosystems.

TMA followed this important display with a second consecutive ANZAC exhibition featuring the life and service of the late Jack Bartlett, the 100-year-old survivor of HMAS Manoora.

The organisation looks forward to again working with the Visitor Centre to honour local heroes in 2025.

TMA will continue to vigorously pursue its quest to establish a permanent home for a regional museum for Port Stephens, with the focus on acquiring a building within Tomaree Headland precinct should one become available.

The TMA welcomes new members who are interested in preserving the history of Port Stephens and share its vision for a museum on the Tomaree Peninsula.

“We encourage the community to join with us to establish a museum that we can all be proud of,” concluded the Chairman.

For more information please contact tomoreemuseum@gmail.com.