celebrating our VOLUNTEERs! this week WE SPOKE TO SANDRA ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE VOLUNTEERING with the qhm.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN VOLUNTEER WITH THE QHM?
I have been volunteering at the QHM for nineteen years.
Do you have a favourite item in the collection?
Many of the most humble items have great appeal.
I love the handmade dolls made in World War 2 by the grandparents of current member, Jenny Zikos. The wooden dolls were carved by Mr Alfred McDonald and his wife Janey dressed the dolls in colourful scraps of fabric.
I also love the little wooden doll which came with little Elizabeth Kate Winiberg Symon from England in 1885. It was a much-loved doll and still wears a cotton dress stitched by the little girl’s mother.
Is there an item in the museum which means something to you?
Every item in the Collection means something to me.
As I work with the Collection, I know it well and every item has a story to tell. The Collection team members take great pride to ensure that everything is cared for well.
Have you a favourite building or location in Queenscliffe?
I love the beaches.
Many years ago I was sitting on the beach reading Henry Handel Richardson’s The Fortunes of Richard Mahony, her famous novel based on her own father’s life including their time in Queenscliff. In it she referred to the beach at Shortland Bluff, the beach on which I was sitting and reading. It was a memorable moment. The beach is our little bit of paradise.
Are there any moments or event in Queenscliffe history which you were part of?
In 1988, many of the Tall Ships which came to Australia for the bicentenary sailed through The Heads into Port Phillip. Seeing those magnificent ships was memorable. It reminds me of a photo held in our Collection showing people looking at The Great White Fleet steaming into Port Phillip in 1908 from the USA.
What do you do for/with the museum?
Currently, I am leading the Collection Team. We work with the Research Team to coordinate artefacts and textiles from our Collection to enhance the exhibitions.
We are also working hard to document and sort everything in our store and archive so that everything will be digitised and easily accessible.
How did you learn about volunteering with the QHM?
Soon after I finished working, I was approached by our President, Jocelyn Grant to join the volunteers at the museum. As I have a particular interest in textiles, I joined Rosemary Brown and we worked together for many years on the Collection and changing exhibits.
Which other museums, local or international, do you love or are wanting to visit?
I love visiting all museums, big or small.
However, it was a treat to spend a holiday in Washington and to be able to visit a different Smithsonian Museum every day. I believe that there are seventeen in that city at present, and they are all magnificent and free like the QHM.
Last year, I was able to visit the new V&A in Dundee, Scotland and saw a wonderful exhibition about tartan. One of the tartans, the Glen Affric tartan dated from 1500-1600 and was found in a peat bog. It has now been recreated. Such a happy story!
📷 Sandra last year at the QHM
