Victorian local groups have developed a travelling exhibition to celebrate the 50th anniversary of ABC Friends and it’s being displayed at various public libraries across the state. 

The exhibition draws on information from the ABC Friends history website and includes large posters outlining our history, historical footage from various rallies, and memorabilia including old stickers, photos, badges, newsletters, t-shirts, books, cartoons, corflutes etc. The exhibition raises public awareness of ABC Friends and our important campaign work.

The exhibition was launched at Footscray Library on July 29 and displayed there for one month. It then moves to Ballarat Library where it will be displayed from September 1 – 21 and launched by the Hon Catherine King MP on September 2. After this it will be shown at Goulburn Valley Library in Shepparton from October 1 – 21 with a launch on October 5. The exhibition then travels back to Melbourne where Ivanhoe Library will be the host.

The exhibition builds our connection with the community by explaining the threats the ABC is facing (funding cuts, government interference, attacks by hostile pressure groups) and what we have done to counter these. The exhibition also promotes the value of the ABC for its contribution to Australian culture and education, its role as emergency broadcaster, and its public interest journalism.

To date the feedback has been extremely positive with many people adding their name and email address to our mailing list. Bluey, Mr Squiggle and B1 are a hit with children visiting the library and they have brought their parents over to the display.

The travelling exhibition is a great example of an innovative approach to community engagement that has also extended our reach into the population.