Recently I was asked the question: “Do you still work?” My answer was: “Yes, I am a Wednesday Worker at the museum.”
“Oh, you don’t get paid then?” said my enquirer.
“Not with money,” I said. “I am a volunteer.”
Yesterday, being Wednesday, I questioned my fellow workers at the morning tea break on their reasons for volunteering to work at the museum. A spirited discussion followed showing that all present had a passion for the work they were doing whether it was preserving the fine fabric of a vintage garment, collecting items and using them to create displays, finding safe storage for a valuable artefact or restoring a piece of machinery which would otherwise have been scrap metal.
A few of the Wednesday volunteers are long-time residents born and bred here, some are new to the area and for some New Zealand is their adopted country. But all agreed that the enjoyment of working with like-minded people and the satisfaction of giving something back to the community more than compensated for the time given.
The various departments that make up the museum give scope for volunteers to make use of special skills acquired during a life-time, and each contributes to make up the whole package, part of which people see when they visit the museum. Not so obvious is the constant sorting, photographing and storing that goes on behind the scenes.
The visitors themselves are also of interest as many of them are from overseas and the volunteers who are rostered to take charge of the entrance and museum shop enjoy many interesting international exchanges. The museum is not static. It has embraced modern technology and computers have been installed to assist with research, as well as keeping track of the many items in its care. Volunteers are using their skills to restore and digitise the photograph collection and research facilities are now available to the archivists who each week answer queries from the public.
The Wednesday team are only part of the total museum work force. On special days an army of helpers arrives to serve food, man stalls, direct parking and activate vintage machinery. The place is buzzing with activity. Over the years many people have given their time to build up the asset we have today and the present volunteers are adding their contribution, in their turn, for the benefit of those who follow after us. If you are interested in local history and have some free time perhaps volunteering at the museum could be for you.
History - Warkworth & District Museum
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