And it’s important; it will help capture — for ever — the history recorded in the columns of the Riverine Herald, the local journal of record since 1863.
That’s 158 years of local history — and if you sign on as a volunteer you won’t just be helping preserve that story, you’ll almost certainly have some eye-opening, entertaining, fascinating and funny times as you help load the data.
“As well as some people to help with this valuable Heritage Project we are also looking for two as back-up support with our front desk duties — especially as cover for staff away/on leave or if we are caught short by an emergency,” EHS president Dot Hammond said.
“When it comes to indexing the Riverine Herald, you will need some computer skills and good focus as you will reading the old papers and hand writing an index to interesting items that may be needed for researchers,” she said.
“You can then transcribe your notes ready for our database — or someone else may transcribe them for you.
“Apart from some computer skills, you also need good concentration and reasonable handwriting (so someone else can read it if necessary).”
Dot said the years the project is currently indexing are the 1970s, 1980s and 1990 to 1997.
“And who knows what you will find,” she said.
“It’s very focused work but is also a valuable tool for the society, as these papers are not online for searching,” she said.
A proudly volunteer-run organisation, EHS volunteers do everything from tour guiding, bookings, exhibitions and museum reception to cataloguing, data entry, collections management, conservation, photography and office administration — as well as working with schoolchildren.
Dot said the society was also running a video/YouTube project, which told interesting and different stories of Echuca-Moama.
“And we need volunteers to assist with this; volunteers with good computer skills and the ability to work in a team — and stay focused in a busy office situation,” she said.
“You will be searching our archives for stories, researching them for authenticity and writing the stories from the archives.
“Some photographic experience would also be useful in preparing copy for our consultant.”
The museum opens at 10am and closes at 2pm, seven days a week, with volunteer hours from 9.45am to 2.10pm.
To find out more, book an interview at eh.soc@bigpond.com or phone Dot Hammond on 0408 505 662.
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