Reflections of a Friend
The Friends of Kurth Kiln Group is now four years old. It was in June 1999, after encouragement from the helpful Parks Victoria Rangers in Gembrook, we decided to put our love for Kurth Kiln to practical use and try to promote greater awareness of its unique history.
On the 18th of May that year we submitted our application for the incorporation of the group. Here, to re-focus our attention, is what we said in our Philosophy Statement:
…The FRIENDS OF KURTH KILN is a group of people committed to the preservation of the local park, the improvement of its facilities and to the restoration and promotion of its historic sites.
To this end it is our intention to:
research into the history of the area, the site’s construction and its purpose, as well as the life of kiln’s designer Professor Kurth, for whom the kiln, and his patented design for it, formed a large part of his life.
to collect, collate and make accessible to the public the history of Kurth Kiln in poster and book form.
restore the kiln and ancillary equipment where feasible and create a functional display of the historic artifacts, together with typical fauna and flora exhibits.
developing the natural bush setting with sign-posted walking tracks along Tomahawk Creek
improving the picnic and amenities facilities at the site.
The help of experts in the respective fields will be enlisted and the involvement of supportive business will be encouraged when appropriate.
It is proposed invite public tours of the site and to hold a major annual event to give continuing purpose and motivation to the group and to widen public awareness of our activities.
If we have done reasonably well in our endeavors to live up to those aims so far, it is almost entirely due to the tremendous help and encouragement received from Parks Victoria. A special thank-you must go to the Rangers and staff at the Gembrook Regional Office, for their enduring support and trust in us.
Alfred Klink (Secretary