LOCAL school and community bus driver, Kerry Champness, has been acquiring walking sticks for the past 18 years.
Now, he has created an exhibition that will feature his incredible collection, which will be launched at the Emerald Museum in Nobelius Heritage Park, Crichton Road, Emerald, on Sunday 18 October at 1pm.
The collection includes a rare wooden cane featuring a snake shaft and a segmented animal bone cane with a carved handle of a dog’s head.
Several antique canes linked to local families will also be part of the exhibition including a wooden cane used by J. Durban Stuart, whose uncle was born on the Emerald diggings in 1861.
Durban Stuart ran a lavender farm in Emerald along with Arch Nobelius in the 1940s.
Mr Champness said walking sticks had been part of society since ancient man fashioned a cane from a tree branch.
“Since that time, they have been used for decoration and practicality and have represented symbols of power, faith, magic and fashion,” he said.
The museum will continue to feature a rare collection of antique boxes, also owned by Kerry.
The museum is open Wednesdays from 10am to 3pm, and Sundays from 1.30pm to 4pm.
Entry is by donation.
