Meroogal hosts the Shoalhaven Museums & Galleries Breakfast Series
Published on Tuesday 24 October 2023
The Shoalhaven Museums & Galleries Breakfast Series is a bi-monthly event hosted by GLAM institutions across the Shoalhaven for many years.
It's a great opportunity for those of us working in galleries, libraries, archives, museums, historical societies and cultural heritage organisations to come together to share insights, ideas and information to support cultural and heritage tourism. It's also a chance to hear from a guest speaker in a friendly and beautiful environment, whether it be Bundanon, the homestead and studio of artist Arthur Boyd, the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum or the Shoalhaven Regional Gallery. Meroogal last hosted the Breakfast Series in 2013 so my colleague Angela Sanfilippo and I thought it was about time we hosted another.
Thank goodness the weather held up allowing our team – Paige Gleeson, Karina Wright, Franziska Zuercher Mindrup and myself along with visitor & interpretation officers Nicole Blay and Cheryl Scowen – to set up the small breakfast and hear from speaker Brett Addlington from Museums & Galleries NSW.
Our guests included representatives from Berry Museum, Gerringong Museum, Milton & Ulladulla Historical Society, Lake Tabourie Museum, Kangaroo Valley Pioneer Museum as well as those mentioned above. I led the meeting with an Acknowledgement of Country, the practice of 'yarning in a circle' to ensure everyone is heard equally. Brett and I also provided some guidance on how to best work with First Nations community leaders and organisations to bring a stronger First Nations voice into the museum experience. The last 20 minutes were updates from all members plus extra questions for Brett. This was then followed by a tour of the house by Nicole Blay.
We have since heard from organisers thanking us for a successful breakfast, asking me to pass on their gratitude to all involved particularly Paige, Cheryl and Nicole for the set-up and pack-down. An excellent way to start a Meroogal day!
Dave Key
Visitor Services Coordinator
In a previous life Dave Key followed his passion for music by performing in small bands and working as a music sales rep for BMG Music. Then other passions took over, and a love of people, history and the natural environment led Dave to teaching history and geography at a performing arts high school, wading through mangrove mud teaching students how to assess the health of estuaries in Homebush Bay and demonstrating responsible and sustainable fishing practices by teaching children how to fish in his capacity as Community Education Officer for NSW Fisheries. He joined our team (then Historic Houses Trust of NSW) in 2010, and as the visitor services coordinator for the Meroogal and Western Sydney Portfolio since 2012 Dave brings all of his experiences to sharing his passion for history, land and culture with audiences old and new.