Security cameras installed at Foster Museum

SIX closed circuit television cameras have now been installed at the Foster Museum in Main Street, thanks to the generosity of four Corner Inlet district community organisations.

The Rotary Club of Foster donated $4000 towards the cameras and their installation, with $1200 coming from the Lions Club of Toora, $1000 from the Returned and Services League Foster Sub-branch, and a gift of $500 from the Yanakie Campdraft.

The Foster and District Historical Society Inc. had become increasingly concerned about the ongoing safety and security of the Museum and its valuable exhibits.

One Society member, after returning from an extensive interstate trip, had noted at a meeting that they had observed CCTV systems in service at virtually every museum they had visited, both large and small.

The Society began looking seriously into improving security measures at the Foster Museum after thieves broke in and stole four antique firearms, bullet moulds, a gunpowder cask and a trophy in December 2021.

Society vice president Michael Heal said the deactivated guns and the other items were of “priceless historical value and provenance” that were originally owned by local pioneering families and subsequently donated to the Museum’s collection.

Only the brass powder cask has been recovered and returned to the Museum in recent months after Victoria Police stopped and searched a car in another region of Victoria as part of an unrelated investigation. 

“There are two cameras mounted inside the Museum and another four have been placed on outside walls of the buildings in the Museum grounds,” Mr Heal said.

“The Society’s members are so grateful for the support our district’s service clubs, community groups and services have given to the Foster Museum’s camera project.

“Their contributions have covered about 90 percent of the total cost of the cameras, which meant that the not-for-profit Society only had to find the balance of 10 percent, instead of the whole amount,” Mr Heal said.

 “The 24-hour camera security system was supplied and installed by Uneek Technologies of Wonthaggi,” he said.

“The design of the system allows the Society’s committee members to access and monitor the both the internal and the external cameras through their mobile telephones, with the data continuously recorded on a remote computer.

“The cameras capture images over a wide area, including the Main Street, McDonald Street, Hoddle Road and Victory Avenue roundabout, as far as the Foster Post Office the other way, and across the off street car park next to the Museum,” Mr Heal said.

“As a community organisation ourselves, we all feel a lot more secure now that the cameras are in and that the Museum has a much greater degree of protection,” he said.

“They really are a tremendous asset to the Foster Museum and are also of benefit to our local Victoria Police and the community if any break-ins occur anywhere within the system’s surveillance area.”

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