Winner

Joy Wilson

Volunteer, Museum of Nursing History, Royal Brisbane Hospital Nurses Association Inc.

Joy Wilson, the honorary curator of the volunteer-run Museum of Nursing History at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, is nominated for her ongoing and exceptional contribution and commitment over a number of years with the Museum. 

Joy devoted her whole working career as a Nurse and Nurse Educator. Whilst working, she developed a love of the history of nursing and pursued a path of life-long learning, not only to further her career but also to increase her knowledge of nursing history and how to preserve it.

Since 2003, Joy has been actively involved with the Museum of Nursing History and has been directly responsible or involved with many major milestones connected with the Museum. This includes the challenging relocation of a collection. 

Joy has pursued every opportunity to learn skills in museum management in a concerted effort to improve the Museum of Nursing History’s practical applications. She has taken advantage of an extraordinary number of workshops, seminars and conferences to further her skills and encourages colleagues from the Museum to also attend.

Joy’s workload increased substantially early in 2022. Whilst on well-earned extended leave from her curatorial position, Joy was asked back as a matter of great urgency to deal with the disastrous consequences of the February 2022 flood event. Many precious items from the Museum of Nursing History collection, housed in two containers, were badly water-damaged and Joy’s leadership and expertise were called upon to coordinate the management of this disaster. Joy knew expert help was needed and quickly enlisted assistance from M&G QLD and members of the Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Material who jumped in with their considerable salvage expertise. These expert conservators are still providing practical hands-on support and Joy follows their advice and techniques assiduously. Joy is still dealing with the process of salvaging damaged items, and the challenge of storing salvaged items.

Joy is extremely proactive in developing relationships with any organisation or expert who can assist in her quest to improve the Museum’s practice. She also volunteers at the Army Museum South Queensland.

Finalist

Julie Weger

Volunteer, Miles & District Historical Society Inc.

Julie Weger has been volunteering at the Miles Historical Village Museum since 2016.  Involved in many aspects of the Village, Julie is an all-rounder Volunteer who actively contributes wherever she can. This has included working with other volunteers to electronically record photos and items for accessioning. She and a co-worker have also spent numerous hours measuring the buildings in the Historical Village to create an electronic mapping system.

Julie takes pride in looking after the collection items in the various buildings and ensuring that they are well maintained. Attendance at the 2020 Queensland Small Museums Conference informed and inspired Julie to confidently restore a number of badly deteriorated leather artefacts. It set Julie on a journey of rehabilitating many of the Museum’s artefacts – she has recently undertaken, of her own accord, to restore the Museum’s mannequins.

Julie strives to maintain the authenticity of the displays, and eagerly engages with visitors within the Historical Village Museum to explain or discuss many of the artefacts and the restorative projects she is working on.  

She is a great role model for new staff members and is always willing to share her knowledge and offer assistance with tasks that are new to them. Her quiet yet exuberant personality creates shared energy and interest with her colleagues working at the Historical Village Museum, cultivating a commitment to maintain and enhance the quality of displays and improve visitors’ experience.