Volunteer Profile May 2019

Rachel is a new volunteer at the Grainger Museum, hailing from our neighbour across the sea, New Zealand. Read on to be introduced to Rachel and hear about her studies and life outside of her role at Grainger Museum Volunteer.

Can you tell us a bit about your background, and why you applied to volunteer at the Grainger Museum?

I’m fairly new to Melbourne, having moved here from Wellington, NZ in February. I have a Bachelor of Arts in History and Art History and currently studying at the University of Melbourne, doing a Masters of Cultural Materials Conservation. I applied to volunteer at the Grainger to get some museum experience here in Melbourne and help familiarise myself with the Uni and the collections it has. It also ties in well with my current studies.

What has been the most surprising aspects of volunteering at the Grainger Museum?

The variety of the backgrounds of the visitors and the other volunteers – I feel that it reflects the variety within Grainger’s own life.

Do you have a favourite object that is currently on display at the Grainger Museum?

This painting of Ella – I am loving how glam she looks!

What do you do when you are not volunteering at the Grainger?

Study! I also work part-time and do some volunteer Communications work for our student conservator student group, but when I’m not doing any of those things I still play tourist in Melbourne and enjoy sketching and painting.

Many thanks to Rachel for taking the time to answer our questions. As National Volunteer Week is currently upon us, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our volunteers, both past and present, for the contributions and time they have committed towards the Grainger Museum.