Col Jacka and Vic Pope are two of the unsung heroes of Balranald.

They man the wonderful attraction, Southern Cross Museum.

They take tours of people, whether one or two, or large groups around the fascinating building, and regale them with fascinating stories of the history behind the exhibits.

They have a few new recent additions, including a large plaque of the history of transport of the area, the stump which signified camp 19 of Bourke and Wills, and a sign detailing who built the replica of the Southern Cross aeroplane.

The fee of $5 is a minute price to pay for the experience.

You not only get to experience such knowledge of history, but the passion which is also evident.

There are so many exhibits, from a range of different eras, something for everyone.

The museum has been running for 11 years now.

Pictured are Col Jacka and Vic Pope, the two knowledgeable men behind the Southern Cross Museum in Balranald. Image: The Riverine Grazier/Kimberly Grabham.

It has had many uses in its time, the building, including a Ford garage and finished up as a trucking depot.

Col was born in Balranald hospital, about seven or eight years ago, as he said cheekily.

He says the only time he went to school was when everyone else wasn’t there.

“I was a bit of a problem child apparently; I didn’t see myself as one but apparently I was,” he said.

Col’s family spilt up when he was 14, and he ended up living in Melbourne in a hotel with is father.

Col met his girlfriend, and then wife at the age of 16 at a mutual friend’s 16th birthday party.

The couple were only together for four months before they were wed.

They spent 59 magical years together, before she passed close to three years ago.

“We had some hard times, at times we thought everything was against us, but we did ok,” he said.

At the age of 24 Col had a major vehicle accident. He was on a driving job, going into Gisbon, and suffered 48 head fractures, fractured hands, neck and back.

“They said the only reason why I survived was I was a country boy; strong and fit,” Col recalled.

“Sometimes the old injuries knock me around a little as I get older.” Kingsford Smith was one of Col’s idols from an early age.

“When I would go to school I would hear about his antics, and what he was allowed to do and what he wasn’t,” Col said.

“He was allowed to do internals (any flight not landing in the territory of another country) but not externals.”

Kingsford Smith was one of Col’s early loves, along with an impressive family member.

Col’s uncle, Albert was the first Australian to be awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery in Gallipoli.

Albert Jacka ended up the Mayor of St Kilda, and Jacka Parade was named in his honour.

Some people have said Albert began the Work for the Dole project in a form. Many war heroes returned home, and could not find work.

Pictured is one of the newer additions to the museum, a sign detailing the makers of the Southern Cross Replica plane. Image: The Riverine Grazier/Kimberly Grabham.

They were retained to build the foreshore at St Kilda and the Great Ocean Road by Mayor Jacka, organised through the Federal government.

Col’s son, Paul was behind the donation of the Southern Cross replica to the museum.

Paul, who has been a helicopter mechanic in the military for 42 years, discovered the plane was being stored by the Army in Oakey, where he was based at that time.

John Chase built the replica for a TV series.

He was also the man who made the Mad Max cars.

The army paid for the transport to Balranald. In 2017, Col attained the Lady Southern Cross, a replica of the plane Kingsford Smith was flying when he disappeared during an air race in 1935.

Kevin Parer and Ray Parer were also well known in the aviation industry, and had a Balranald connection.

“Ray owned the ABC Café in Balranald, and when he sold it, he went to New Guinea searching for gold,” Col said.

“Their planes, they would have regular chairs in them, and they would drill four holes in the ground and sit the chair legs in them to stabilise.

“The planes had a licence to hold eight passengers, and they would also sit in regular chairs with the same set-up.”

Tragically, Kevin was killed in New Guinea when the Japanese made an attack.

Vic Pope is also an invaluable asset to the museum but he prefers to defer to Col, and is happier dealing with smaller groups.

Vic was a linotype operator for the Coonabarabran Times. “I got the job when I was 13 years old,” Vic chuckled.

“I told the boss I was 16. I kept on making excuses because I couldn’t sign paperwork.

“I got the job during the school holidays and just never went back to school; in those days you could do that.”

It took him three months to learn how to use the machine, and to learn where the type went, and to work the Heidelberg and plate.

He also learnt quickly how to print paper, noting they are to be put through one at a time.

“I wrecked many sheets getting it right, you needed to get a slight wind under it for it to go through right,” he recalled.

“I wasn’t allowed to use the machine at first, as it could be dangerous, and they locked the keyboards at night.

But I taught myself how to use the linotype keyboard, and I could operate that faster than a normal keyboard.”

After a time, he went to Sydney and attained a position with Rupert Murdoch.

“It was during the time when he had free newspapers, and threw them over people’s fences.

“You would be sitting down typing the news, and he would come over and sit down right on the copy.

“He would always know what you drank, and would have a drink in hand for you.

“He married a typist from the typing pool, his first wife.”

Out the back of the building is a big area where they store the stubbies and cans people bring in for them to recycle.

“That’s how we pay the bills,” Col smiled.

“A lot of people, like the workers around the area, the mine and line workers, hotels and the hospital bring in all their cans.

We are lucky we have that to fall back on.

Col Jacka and Vic Pope: the men of Southern Cross Museum and Balranald’s best assets

“It costs $15,000 a year for us to be here.”

If you have time, call into the Southern Cross Museum and see Col and Vic, enjoy their expertise and show your support.

The time to volunteer for the Southern Cross is now, so Col and Vic can impart their knowledge onto some more people.

Call in to see Col and Vic, they are in sore need of volunteers