We welcome AMaGA

Museum and gallery practitioners from a range of Canberra's major cultural institutions paid us a visit on 23 February. They were all members of the Australian Museums and Galleries Association, the national association and peak advocacy body representing museums and galleries. It is also a service and professional development organisation, seeking to enhance the value of Australia's collections, public programs and stories by sharing knowledge, developing skills, inspiring innovation and providing leadership and the authoritative voice in protecting and promoting the arts and cultural heritage.

We took the opportunity to showcase our various displays, including one or two 'under construction', and share the Centre's story. After a welcome and broad overview from Honorary Curator Alastair Crombie, Mardie Troth presented the recently restored 'Shumack sampler' and explained its importance to us. Ken Heffernan outlined our efforts to explore and tell the story of the district's Indigenous people, and gave an overview of the Gillespie Collection. Allen Mawer explained the foundations of the Centre in the original Hall School, and our 'flagship' display 'From Ginin-ginin-dery to Hall'. Phil Robson summarised the on-going development of our Collection Management System, and the display which he is curating for the 2022 Heritage Festival, 'The Brooklands story'. Finally, Peter Browning talked about our Family and Local History Program, and our 'Ginninderra blacksmith' display as an example of the stories we can tell about Ginninderra's early settlers.

Visitors then had the opportunity for guided visits to the various parts of the Centre of most interest to them – but as usual, time was too short! Before departures, the President of AMaGA ACT, Rowan Henderson, gave a vote of thanks to the Centre – and presented Alastair Crombie with a box of chocolates (which were shared with other volunteers the next day!).