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Six winners from across Newfoundland and Labrador were rewarded for their hard work, dedication and imagination in presenting our province's history in a ceremony at the Fairmont Newfoundland on Tuesday, March 11.

The Manning Awards, established in 1993 by the Historic Sites Association are presented annually and reflect excellence in the public presentation of historic places. They were introduced to honour the memory of Bill Manning, former Area Superintendent for National Historic Sites.

The Honourable Edward Roberts, Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador and Honourary Patron of the event, and Mrs. Joyce Manning, each presented an award to a group for the excellent work undertaken to display the history and heritage of their communities.

'Our annual Manning Awards Ceremony is one of the year's highlights for the Association,' said Alex Hickman, Chair of the HSA Manning Committee. 'There is a tremendous growth of interest in our history, and much of the enthusiasm can be attributed to the fine work of these groups and individuals. Each of their projects uses imaginative ways to present history so that others are able to appreciate it.'

Two awards were presented in the Community category, one to the Torbay Museum Heritage Committee for their innovative outreach programs and preservation of the town's history, and the other to the Durrell Museum Association for the development of the 'History of the Arm Lads Brigade: A Legacy of Pride' and for the preservation of its armoury and training barracks.

Awards in the Provincial category went to the Winterton Heritage Advisory Board for restoration of the Winterton Boat Building and Community Museum and for their efforts in preserving one of the province's most important traditional crafts. The Newman Wine Vaults Committee of the Newfoundland Historic Trust was recognized for restoring the Vaults that were long used to mature Newman's Port and for doing an exemplary job of making the vaults accessible for public visitation and multiple use.

The Cape Race-Portugal Cove South Heritage Society received the award in the National category for the development of the Myrick Wireless Interpretation Centre which houses impressive interpretive displays that inform visitors about the establishment of the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Station, communications at Cape Race, and the connection to the Titanic disaster.

The award for International significance was presented by Senator Bill Rompkey to the Battle Harbour Historic Trust for their success in commemorating the most extensive international migratory fishery in the world through preservation and extensive restoration.

The Manning Ceremony was also witness to the first presentation of the Dr. Paul O'Neill Scholarship for Excellence in Newfoundland and Labrador Studies to Maria Hillier, an Honours student from Fortune who has shown academic excellence and outstanding enthusiasm in her studies surrounding Forensic Archeology. The HSA which hosts the awards, also established the scholarship in honour of Dr. O'Neill and to recognize his many contributions to the study and promotion of Newfoundland and Labrador culture and history.

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BACKGROUNDER - MANNING AWARDS

The Historic Sites Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (HSA) is a non-profit organization with a mandate to protect, preserve, promote and interpret the history and heritage of Newfoundland and Labrador through partnership with Parks Canada.

In 1993 the HSA created The Manning Award for Excellence in the Public Presentation of Historic Places in order to recognize and encourage the fine work being done by these groups. This award honours the late Bill Manning, former Parks Canada Superintendent of Historic Sites for Newfoundland and Labrador, who realized that the preservation and presentation of our heritage needs the involvement of the people in these communities. The Manning Award is a fitting tribute to this man and his achievements and is under the distinguished patronage o