Fundraising for Airlie Reef Heart Museum

The Airlie Beach Aquatic Reef Club Inc. is a not-for-profit organisation which does aquatic activities and Reef Education.  The Clubs next goal is to establish the Airlie Reef Heart Museum where everyone can learn about the beautiful tropical ecosystems of the Great Barrier Reef.

The idea of an Airlie museum or reef education centre has been a community dream for some time and the Airlie Reef Heart Museum will see all of this become a reality.  The Museum will be a place for community members, tourists, schools, universities and anyone with an interest in the Great Barrier Reef to come and learn, share knowledge and participate in protecting this iconic world heritage site. Ideally it will be a not-for-profit venture with all excess funds raised through visitor fees and donations going back into the centre or into reef conservation and monitoring.

The Museum will provide visitors a historical journey through time in the development of Airlie Beach and surrounding areas. It will show the progress as new marinas are developed, populations grow and businesses thrive.  And the destruction and rebuilding after the wrath of mother nature’s cyclones.  It will highlight the strength of community and the many community led events and projects, such as Logan’s Playground, to provide a real personal feel to the Museum experience.

Airlie Reef Heart Museum will also provide an educational experience.  It will teach about how the reef grows and changes, which creatures make up and live on and around the reef, the ecosystem services it provides, the pressures it faces and the management actions that are in place to protect it.  The Reef 2050 Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program will be explained and information on the condition of the reef provided.

The Museum will provide a space for community groups achievements (reef protection markers) and current aspirations or projects.  There is potential for a/some rescue turtle/s to be cared for (behind glass to reduce stress) at the Museum to provide a real example of wildlife conservation

Stage 1:

Requirements
Venue – needs toilet access, water, A/C.   
Displays of Airlie Beach history, mangrove ecosystems, whale migration, coral reef ecology, and climate change predictions etc.
Staff:  1 paid coordinating staff (with marine knowledge) to manage volunteers etc. and a part time bookkeeper.
Optional extra’s pending funding and licenses:  Rescue turtle tank, touch tank/area with sea stars etc., mini reef aquariums, seahorse tank, jelly fish tank.

Stage 2

Expansions will be planned further during development and roll out of Stage 1.  Stage 2 could include an art space, café, eco/local art shop.

Answer a Reef Question and put a gold coin donation towards the Museum, you are eligible to walk over  the inflatable in a heated pool — feeling entertained at Airlie Beach Aquatic Reef Club Inc..