Allora lover of all things sport Glyn Rees has been honoured with life membership of the Allora Regional Sports Museum and had the sports library called after him. The life membership was presented during the opening of the showroom for the 1922 Ford Special Wikner, the oldest racing car in Australia.
Legendary racing car drivers Dick Johnson, Kevin Bartlett, Colin Bond and John Bowe were at the opening which was attended by 300 people. Bowe donated a biography to the museum which was raffled to raise funds for the museum.
The Ford Special Wikner Showroom is part of the Allora Regional Sports Museum and owned by Allora resident Doug Partington.
Rees said he had been a lover of sport in general since a young boy. “While I loved playing various sports, I have always been a collector of history and records and a collector of sporting books, mementoes and souvenirs over more than six decades,” he said.
“I have an immense collection of records and memorabilia at home but the museum serves to provide similar for everyone’s enjoyment.
“I certainly enjoy showing visitors the exhibits, and highlighting the achievements of those connected with the area.”
He was the museums first secretary 28 years ago along with president Perry Cronin and treasurer, the late Terry Doyle. Rees is now research officer for the museum.
“I started collecting as a schoolboy in my hometown of Gladstone, before a work transfer brought me to Warwick in 1989, and then Allora in 1995,” he said.
“My involvement with newspapers since 1986 in Gladstone, and on sport committees, provided abundant opportunity to collect records, much of which will find its way into the Allora Regional Sports Museum.
“To be bestowed with Life Membership and have the Sports Library named in my honour nearly robbed me of words, and given it happened on such a very special occasion, I got a touch emotional which affected my MC duties.”
