Chontelle - Collection Technician

Chontelle thought museums were just about hanging out with old stuff. She now, after completing her PGDip, understands the roles museums play in society.

I think I was always going to work in a museum. I am obsessed with old things. So, after gaining a Bachelor of Art in History at Otago University I was lucky enough to gain a job at my local transport museum, Bill Richardson Transport World in Invercargill. I quickly realised that being able to understand history is not the same as maintaining it in a museum environment, and I needed more study. Therefore, after some research and some good reviews from people in the sector, I chose to move to Wellington to join the Museum and Heritage Studies course at Victoria.

The course gave me the skills and breadth of knowledge to really get a grasp on what the heritage sector is all about. Before I went to Vic, I believed that museums were just about hanging out with old stuff. After the course, I understood the roles museums play in our society, and the challenges of meeting the requirements of those roles.

While in Wellington I also volunteered at the front of house at Katherine Mansfield House and Garden and did my placement with Elizabeth Cox at Bay Heritage. I met so many great people that year and had such a variety of experiences. At Katherine Mansfield House and Garden I learnt about public engagement, at Bay Heritage I learnt about content creation and research. But my first love has always been the objects that people cared about. When I came back to Invercargill my degree helped me gain a job as a Collection Technician at the southland Museum & Art Gallery. I love my job, as everyday I feel closer to the people and history of my region. Contributing to the care and research of these objects makes me feel like we are keeping Southland’s taonga alive. And everyday I get to hang out with history!