Winner

Virginia Gordon
Assistant Curator, Queensland Police Museum, Brisbane

Virginia Gordon was appointed as the Queensland Police Museum’s Assistant Curator in August 2000. Her first twelve years were spent managing the Education Program during which she spoke to thousands of children and adults, enlivening their curiosity about the world of policing in Queensland. 

Virginia’s interest in costume led her to amass many resources about the changes in police uniforms since 1864. As the Museum’s costume expert, she was instrumental in researching and adding historical police uniform items to the Australian Dress Register.

Virginia’s well-researched and efficiently communicated public information service has built a strong rapport with clients, who rate her service as exceptional.

Virginia completed both a Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies in 2004 and a Graduate Diploma in Museum Studies in 2005 to upskill for her work within the Queensland Police Museum. Across 17 years, Virginia has continued with her research and knowledge about the uniform history of the Queensland Police – gathering information, resources, images, newspaper clippings and archival data about uniforms and their changes (1864 to now). Virginia undertakes historical research for a variety of Museum clients – working with prospective donors; writing histories of various police stations and police officers; and providing access to records on Indigenous troopers and trackers within the service.

Finalists

Tony Martin
CEO, Qantas Founders Museum, Longreach

As CEO of Qantas Founders Museum, Longreach, Tony Martin has previously been recognised for his outstanding contribution to the Museum however, over the past three years, his increased commitment to and connection with the community and his greater leadership role in regional tourism deserves renewed acknowledgement. 

Tony has upgraded his own qualifications; has been a prime mover in bringing about significant positive cultural shifts at the Museum’s Board level; and has stepped up team training and development with the Museum, providing scholarships to enable staff to improve their professional skills and qualifications. The team culture of mutual respect, fun at work, a pride in their story, and a desire to give visitors the best possible experience can be directly attributed to Tony.

Qantas Founders Museum, under Tony’s leadership, has always valued community connections and this has been taken to greater levels in the past couple of years. Tony was elected to Longreach Regional Council in March 2016 and is Chair of the Tourism Advisory Council and Deputy-Chair of the Economic Development Committee. Tony participates in the annual Queensland Tourism Industry Council Mentorship program, maintaining contact with the people to whom he’s provided guidance. He discusses career paths with students at Longreach Pastoral College and Longreach School of Distance Education, and the Museum has recently worked with Longreach High School students studying aeronautics through the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) program.

Jennifer Garcia
Communications & Programming Manager, Newstead House, Brisbane

For the past five years, Jennifer Garcia has been employed as the Communications and Programming Manager at Newstead House, Brisbane. This position was newly created, and during this time Jennifer has helped reimagine the house museum by re-engaging with the local community through innovative public programing, events, research, community partnerships, collaborations, and education projects. 

Jennifer has greatly augmented and enhanced Newstead House’s profile as a cultural and heritage precinct and a destination for domestic and international visitors. 

Jennifer’s work at Newstead House involves multiple roles including communications; programming; event management; and education programs. This has included new artistic projects and collaborations which have aimed to reshape community perceptions about what a heritage house museum is, how it functions, what it can offer the community and how it can stimulate a fresh sense and understanding of who we are and where we’ve come from.