Residency underway

Last Tuesday the Historical Society held a morning tea for its volunteers to thank them for their contribution over the last year, and to introduce them to me.

That's me on the left, listening to Lennie McCall, Chair of Council and residency project officer. On the table in front of me are a selection of the family textiles which set me on the path that eventually led to this residency. (You'll hear more on these in my next post).

I had the pleasure of meeting more than fifty of the volunteers who serve the Society so well. I also met the President of the Society, Robert Nicholson. Here he is talking to Lennie McCall and Jane King, executive officer of Museums Australia WA.

It was a chance meeting and conversation with Jane which led me to the Society's doorstep. I'm very grateful to Jane both for her initial recommendation and her ongoing encouragement. Lennie, from the moment I approached her, has been enthusiastic and supportive. It took a huge amount of work on her part to make this residency happen, so the launch of the residency was certainly a joint celebration.

I spoke briefly about my plans for the residency, and shared the stories of the family textiles I had brought along. Then everyone enjoyed a wonderful morning tea, being served here by Trudi and Lesley.