Remembering Mark Lipscomb

Image credit: Mark Lipscomb in 2011 taking part in an ABC Open workshop. Photo by David Mathieson.

Whenever a conversation is had about community museums in NSW, quite often Adelong Alive Museum and Mark Lipscomb in particular are mentioned. On 12 February, Adelong lost one of its most dedicated in Mark. A founding member of the Museum Committee and instrumental in it's establishment, Mark played a key role in the 12 years of the Museum as past President and in other committee roles. Through writing grants, organising workshops, getting the school kids involved or hosting guided bus tours - Mark made Adelong Alive Museum truly alive through his energising of the space. Millinery workshops, artists in residence programs, astronomy nights, sculptures, photography exhibitions are all not uncommon to visitors to the museum. 

His understanding of the role of a museum in its community was remarkable. Close friend and fellow Museum founder Tom Wiles said "He was an exceptional person. When the Museum was in its infancy it was through Mark that we were able to get the necessary grants to progress it. Without him the Museum wouldn't be where it is today."

For me, Mark was the first community museum worker I dealt with. His enthusiasm and dedication was contagious. My experiences in working with Mark and the Adelong Alive committee over ten years ago encouraged and inspired me to work with dozens more museums across NSW and Victoria. The loss of Mark Lipscomb extends far beyond the Museum. Mark also served on the committees for Adelong Men's Shed, S and C Club, Adelong Golf Club, Adelong Falls, Adelong Progress Association, The Antique Fair and Falls Walking Trail. Mark was also a member of the Tumut Shire Council's Cultural Committee. 

His ability to write a successful grant application was legendary. Always with a project in the making, I am sure he had M&G NSW's number on speed dial when the right grant program opened. 

His passing was acknowledged on the front page of the Tumut & Adelong Times and a story on the Wagga based Prime News whom he'd been interviewed by just a few weeks ago. He'd be pleased to have gotten a plug in for the Museum.

Adelong Alive will continue on. There is an equally as talented and dedicated group of volunteers ably led by Mark's sister-in-law Margaret Bentley who will continue to achieve their shared vision of preserving and telling the story of Adelong to its residents and visitors with Mark now such a treasured part of that story. 

Mark is survived by his wife Diana, sons Stephen and Gerald and extended family.

Vanessa Keenan
Museum Advisor