Respected local historian Angela George has taken on the fitting role of collections manager at Eden Killer Whale Museum (EKWM).
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Angela started in her position two weeks ago, but is definitely no stranger to the museum.
"When I finished university about 27 years ago, this is where I was," she said.
"I feel like I have come back to where I started, I have come full circle."
The arts degree and graduate diploma of applied science in museum studies Angela completed weren't the only drivers for her ongoing enthusiasm for the history of the Far South Coast region.
"I always had exposure, my father and grandfather knew a lot about the local area. My dad's family were in Pambula from the 1840s and Pop had left notes about many things that happened," Angela said.
"Dad picked up where he left off, and now I have picked up the baton I guess you could say.
"He ended up with all the things that were passed on and added more to it, became a repository for other people's stuff, now I am sorting through it all and the things with local significance are coming to the local museums," she said.
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Angela worked as the local museums advisor for about six years through Museums and Galleries NSW and council, until the end of 2020.
"This allowed me to build up a good relationships with all the museums in the local community and enabled me to become more familiar with their collections, what they do and what they need," she said.
EKWM is currently undergoing a major renovation and extension, and when completed Angela said she will be able to focus on redevelopment of the exhibition themes and display layouts, keeping the existing exhibitions on an even keel while continuing to plan for the future.
"We will need to move Old Tom, and Beryl the whale boat, things will flow after that," Angela said.
"I am very excited to be back. Like most people that have had anything to do with the museum, I have a great sense of pride.
"It's bloody awesome to have an institution like this in a regional area like Eden, it's a very rare thing to have a museum of this level, let alone one that is basically self-supporting.
"From the time of Old Tom's death and the cleaning of the skeleton, the committee have raised the funds and built it up brick by brick. It's a massive achievement for a voluntary community group."
Having taken over the position from Jody White, who occupied the role for many years, Angela said she is reading through files and familiarising herself with the role.
"It makes it very easy when stepping into the shoes of someone who was organised and didn't leave things half done," she said.
A seasoned grant writer, the other important consultancy and project work Angela undertakes in the region will continue, along with her advocacy for the preservation of local assets.
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Leah Szanto
Regional journalist covering the Far South Coast of NSW.
Regional journalist covering the Far South Coast of NSW.
