THE people of Northam cherish their famous colony of mute white swans.
So when one was killed in a motor vehicle accident a few years ago it was seen by the community as yet another blow to the steadily reducing numbers of the iconic heritage attraction.
A groundswell of popular opinion saw a case put to Northam Shire Council for a taxidermist to preserve the bird in a display case at the Northam Visitors Centre.
But in August 2013, this plan was rejected by the narrowest of margins in council.
However, such was popular local support for the idea, that Earth Solutions Avon Valley was able to launch a fund-raising drive and money started to roll in.
But it was not sufficient to cover the costs of taxidermy and mounting in a large display case.
So Earth Solutions embarked on an extended campaign of seeking further public funds through its own efforts in making and selling items, donating the earnings from members’ work at public events, and many cake sales and raffles.
It was a slow and challenging process, but the $4400 target eventually was reached and the taxidermist commission to do the job.
Last week the beautifully restore, mounted and encased mute white swan was unveiled to a crowd at Old Northam Railway Station as part of events celebrating Seniors Week.
In unveiling the display Karen Ducat who organised the fundraiser thanked the many contributors for their financial support and said the public exhibit at the Old Northam Railway Station would ensure the priceless heritage of Northam’s swan colony was not lost.
