By Mel Green, Class Leader
In July, the U3A Military History group went to one of Victoria’s important military heritage sites, the Puckapunyal Australian Armoured Corps Museum. We made the 250km return bus trip and enjoyed a special opening and guided tour by the Museum Curator, Graeme Woodham, pictured above.
So much to see
Puckapunyal is the home and training school of the Australian Armoured Corps which also accommodates the Armoured Corps Museum.
The collection includes:
- Australian Light Horse collection
- Small arms and anti-tank weapons
- Australian armour during WWII and Vietnam
- A lethality display, demonstrating the impact of various weapons on an armoured plate.
- Plus, over 80 armoured fighting vehicles and anti-armour weapons
The Australian Army Tank Museum’s mission is to preserve, exhibit and interpret armoured vehicles, artifacts, icons and memorabilia in order to promote and commemorate Australia’s Lighthorse and Armoured heritage. The Puckapunyal Museum is also being expanded to accommodate exhibits from the Royal Australian Artillery so a return trip in the future may well be planned for the class.
An email to the Curator, Graeme Woodham, has been sent thanking him for his help in making the visit so successful.
More exciting trips to come
With other heritage sites opening up, further visits will be organised during the year and the RAAF Museum at Point Cook is high on our agenda when its upgrade is completed.