The Limestone Coast is mourning one of the caretakers of the region’s history, following the death of Allan Childs.
Mr Childs was born at OB Flat where Adam Lindsay Gordon spent 14 years of his short life.
Since taking on the caretaker/curator role at Dingley Dell Cottage and Museum, Port MacDonnell, Mr Childs and his wife Jenny devoted more than 26 years to promulgating the life and works of Adam Lindsay Gordon.
However, Mr Childs admitted they knew nothing about Gordon when they took on the lease of Dingley Dell in 1997 but, as he had to show people through the cottage, he did some research.
With the help of his grandchildren, he was introduced to the internet and that was it.
He became a walking encyclopedia about Gordon, even taking on the persona of the poet when talking to visitors, and he loved reciting the poet’s work.
Mr Childs was instrumental in forming the Friends of Dingley Dell group to raise money for the betterment of Dingley Dell Cottage, and the couple maintained and improved the surrounding gardens and grounds, earning them the Port MacDonnell Red Cross Award for gardens.
In 2001 the cottage received a High Commendation for its gardens in the Keep South Australia Beautiful (KESAB) awards.
Dingley Dell Cottage and Museum, the first building to be listed on the South Australian Heritage Register, in 2002 received a $15,000 heritage grant to undertake restorative maintenance work on the cottage, grounds and the nature trail.
Mr Childs received an Australia Day Citizen of the Year Award for his efforts in restoring the cottage and the ongoing preservation of its history and that of Adam Lindsay Gordon.
Mr Childs and the late John Adams were instrumental in organising through the auspices of the Penola Cultural Fund and several other local benefactors, a replica bust to that in Westminster Abbey being installed in Penola, in the district where Gordon spent many years.
The bust was unveiled in Penola in October 2005 by the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr Wesley Carr.
This became the Poets’ Corner of Penola, with the addition of the busts of two other Penola poets – John Shaw Neilson and William Henry Ogilvie – unveiled in December 2018.
Mr Childs was an inaugural member of the Adam Lindsay Gordon Commemorative Committee formed in January 2006.
Its first meeting was held at Dingley Dell in October when Mr Childs was elected the first president.
In June that year was also the inaugural Froth and Bubble Festival at Federation Square, Melbourne, promoted by the Australian Racing Museum and Hall of Fame.
This began an annual tribute of laying wattle sprigs at the Adam Lindsay Gordon statue in Spring Street, Melbourne, each June on the Saturday closest to the date of the poet’s death.
Mr and Mrs Childs were made life members of the Adam Lindsay Gordon Commemorative Committee in 2020, and that year they reluctantly retired from Dingley Dell due to health issues, having served on the committee for more than 14 years.
