By DANE LILLINGSTONE
THE Allora Regional Sports Museum has existed in some form or another since 1998, and has only continued to grow.
It’s a remarkable effort for a small town to produce the quality of sporting stars that they have.
Foundation president Perry Cronin said he didn’t even know what to do with some of the memorabilia they’ve picked up over the years.
Perry said he couldn’t explain the high amount of success Allora has had in sport.
“I don’t know really,” he said.
“I’d like to try to claim a record for the percentage of people we have, the success we’ve had, I don’t think we’d be beaten.
“There are good kids coming through all the time, with good support. Just dedicated people I’d say.”
The museum is currently open from noon-4pm on Sundays or by appointment.
Perry said the entire operation was run purely by passionate people.
“We just got a local committee and it’s all volunteers, no-one gets paid, it’s just done for a love for it really,” he said.
“We started with the boots of Brian Phelan. They’re legendary. He kicked a magnificent goal to win the St George cup in 1963. He was always a bloke who didn’t care about his uniform. Most times he used to wire them on.”
It all started when it was suggested that Brian did something special with the boots, and initially it was decided to hang the boots in the pub in Allora. Following that it all blew up. A scheduled dinner attracted 240 people and celebrations had to be moved.
Starting in the back of a shop in 1998, the museum now resides at 78 Herbert Street, Allora, in a building that is packed to the brim with local sporting memorabilia and with people like Laura Geitz winning World Cups, it’s only going to get fuller.
For further information or to set up an appointment, you can call 4666 3635 or 0407 034 320.
