Out of the closet

By Casey Neill
YARRA Ranges collectors are being asked to share their passion with the community through the shire’s Closet Collectors program.
“We want to see as many collections as possible, no matter how weird or wacky they may be!” councillor Graham Warren said.
Cr Warren, whose wife is a closet collector, said the program was designed to seek out community members with a passion for collectibles.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for collectors to share their passion with the rest of us and to highlight the different values people place on all sorts of objects, proving that judgement really is unique to the individual,” Cr Warren said.
“Whether it be buttons or badges, scarves, Smurfs or spoons, your collection could be displayed around the shire as part of a great exhibition.”
Cr Warren said collections would be displayed at locations throughout the shire so needed to be easy to move.
He said each display would last no longer than three months and would involve about 10 collections.
“We are also looking at developing a dedicated community collections space once the museum redevelopment is complete so that Closet Collectors can become an ongoing program,” he said.
The program is open to collectors aged 12 years and over.
Expressions of interest for involvement in the first display close on 16 May.
People who would like to enter their collections can contact Yarra Ranges Regional Museum by calling 9294 6313, sending an email to museum@yarraranges.vic.gov.au, or mailing their details to PO Box 105, Lilydale, 3140.