Art explores Brooker’s place in history

THE importance of the Brooker Highway is not lost on commuters between the north and south of the capital.

Nor is its importance lost on 95-year-old Eileen Brooker, whose father Edward Brooker conceived the idea for the northern outlet which was later named in his honour.

“Whenever I have to give my name, I get asked if I had anything to do with the Brooker,” Ms Brooker told the Mercury. “If only he could see it now and the number of people that rely on it every day of their life,” she said.

The stories and memories of the Brooker Highway are being celebrated in an exhibition currently on at the Moonah Arts Centre.

The exhibition has been put together by the Story Island Project, a Hobart-based organisation that runs creative literacy projects for kids.

Students have produced stories and illustrations based on people connected to the Brooker Highway.

With six schools along the highway, the creators of the project — Kate Gross and Emily Bullock — hope it will help kids to understand more about the history of their own backyards.

Ms Brooker grew up in Montrose and the highway has a special place in her heart.

Her late father was Tasmania’s transport minister at the time of the highway’s conception. He also served as premier between 1947-48.

Mr Brooker did not live to see the highway finished, but Ms Brooker said his initial plan was to have it extend around the waterfront through Battery Point to Kingston. She said he was stymied by homeowners at Battery Point.

Opening the exhibition this week, Ms Brooker, herself an artist, said she was happy to see the efforts of the students and it was a privilege to have the highway named after her father.