THE Tamworth country music hall of fame will have a future after the council signed a deal to take over the institution from next year.
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The decisions was a huge boon for the current hall of fame volunteers who held grave concerns for the longevity of the facility and its significant collection.
"This means we do have a future," president Eric Scott said.
Mr Scott said the Australian Country Music Foundation faced issues bearing down on most volunteer organisations.
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"None of us are getting younger," Mr Scott said.
"We've had problems with recruiting younger volunteers, which is a problem worldwide."
Mr Scott said it was paramount to be able to preserve the internationally recognised archive and collection at the hall of fame.
But it's hoped the iconic building and its collection will live on in perpetuity once the council officially takes the reins in March, 2020.
Bringing the council on board was the best possible move, in Mr Scott's mind, because of its expertise in preserving and showcasing valuable collections through its galleries and museums.
"I hope the locals realise, whether they are country music fans or not, it is a legitimate part of Tamworth's and Australia's history," he said.
Festival stalwart and hall of fame patron Max Ellis said it was a huge win for the country music community.
"I am delighted to see this happening," he said.
"It will be pay big dividends for the community and the festival as it grows and develops in different ways."
Mr Ellis said mayor Col Murray, the council's business and community director John Sommerlad and country music festival manager Barry Harley were heavily involved and supportive of the venture.
The mayor said the current volunteers and their vast knowledge would not be lost in the takeover.
"It is not to displace the volunteers, but to work with them and ensure that facility continues," Cr Murray said.
"That is a nationally recognised exhibition.
"We need to ensure it's a part of the landscape indefinitely into the future."
The council's hall of fame takeover also got a ringing endorsement from Australia's grand lady of country music, Joy McKean.
"I am delighted to hear Tamworth Regional Council is becoming involved in the operation of the wonderful country music hall of fame and the ongoing preservation and expansion of the ACMF's unmatched country music archive and collection," she said.
"I congratulate the mayor Col Murray, council members, staff and all in involved at ACMF for reaching this agreement which will ensure these priceless country music artefacts will be cared for and preserved for decades to come."
Jacob McArthur
Jacob McArthur is opinions editor for The Canberra Times and Australian Community Media. As part of the Canberra Times' production team, he helps the people of Canberra and beyond get the stories they need, when they need them across a range of platforms, while helping maintain a high editorial standard. Before moving to Canberra in 2020, he started with Australian Community Media in 2015 as a journalist for The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he kept a close eye on Tamworth Regional Council. Jacob was also the co-host of ACM's Water Pressure podcast where he and Jamieson Murphy took a deep dive on issues and key decisions arising during one of the region's worst droughts on record.
Jacob McArthur is opinions editor for The Canberra Times and Australian Community Media. As part of the Canberra Times' production team, he helps the people of Canberra and beyond get the stories they need, when they need them across a range of platforms, while helping maintain a high editorial standard. Before moving to Canberra in 2020, he started with Australian Community Media in 2015 as a journalist for The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he kept a close eye on Tamworth Regional Council. Jacob was also the co-host of ACM's Water Pressure podcast where he and Jamieson Murphy took a deep dive on issues and key decisions arising during one of the region's worst droughts on record.
