Queanbeyan Palerang Council has taken proud possession of a WWII certificate that was presented to serviceman and former local historian, Bert Sheedy, who passed away in 2000.
The certificates were given to service personnel who served in WWII by the Councils of the Municipality of Queanbeyan and the Shire of Yarrowlumla.
Sandie Parkes from Canberra’s The Green Shed came across the certificate and generously reached out to Council’s local history librarian to offer it as part of the collection.
Bert Sheedy had an immeasurable impact on the local history collection, with many of his writings being donated to the collection. Bert made many contributions to historic journals and articles and was the author of Moneroo to Monaro: history of Monaro Street, 1830s-1995, Queanbeyan. He also helped record the three large volumes Queanbeyan Pioneer Cemeteries, Burials and Index.
The local history collection usually only keeps documents and historical artefacts are added to the Queanbeyan Museum’s collection. However, given Bert’s significant contributions to the local history collection, Council intends to keep the framed certificate with the collection.
The certificate will have a careful restoration and be remounted in its frame, to ensure it is preserved for many years to come.
Bert served with the 3rd Australian Infantry Battalion and the 7th Australian Machine Gun battalion AIF in New Guinea and was awarded the British Empire Medal in 1972 for his contribution to local history.
