Tom & Minnie YoungPrint Page

Tom & Minnie Young Memorial Hall

Plaque : 

The original School of Arts library building was opened in September, 1893.  It was said to be funded mainly by Queensland Colleries Company through its manager, Mr William Rankin.  The building was destroyed by fire on November 27, 1948.  Some of the fire insurance (600 pounds) provided a nucleus for a building fund, and through the efforts of Tom and Minnie Young (2000 pounds) and a donation (1000 pounds) from the Queensland Coal Board, a new building was officially opened on July 22, 1955 by Minister of Lands, Mr T. A. Foley.

Tom Young was born in the Burrum railway gatehouse in September, 1895 and lived most of his life in the Burrum district.  He served in World War 1 and was with the first contingent to land at Gallipoli.  He worked as a coal miner and linesman and died on July 10, 1976, aged 80.  Tom gave utmost in service to the community he loved so well.

Wilhelima (Minnie), wife of Tom Young, was the librarian in the original library building and was reappointed in the new building.  Minnie grew vegetables and raised fowls to be raffled while Tom sold the tickets to raise 2000 pounds for the rebuilding of the Howard School of Arts.

On Saturday October 27, 1984 the new Howard Public Library was officially opened by Mayor of Hervey Bay, Ald. Bill Elson-Green, in the back room of the School of Arts building which was named the Tom Young Memorial Hall.  Upon the death of Minnie, the Howard Library building was renamed the Tom & Minnie Young Memorial Hall, at the request of the citizens of Howard who wanted her to be remembered along with her husband Tom.

Tom & Minnie Young Memorial Hall