Museum a labour of love

MEET the crack team behind the Cairns Museum.

Curator Jo Besley, museum development officer Dr Jo Wills, textile conservator Michael Marendy and installation manager Michael Marzik.

These four have been hard at work piecing together the region’s historical treasures.

The Cairns Museum, opening next Saturday, consists of four galleries – Cairns Over Time, Old Cairns, Living in the Tropics and Changing Cairns.

Ms Besley, who curated the first three galleries, said the Far North had such a rich history.

“We were really keen to capture the cultural diversity of Cairns, because it’s always been diverse here,” she said.

“Everywhere we try to give multiple perspectives ... we don’t have just an indigenous perspective it’s throughout the gallery.”

Mr Marzik is in charge of ensuring the curator vision is realised in terms of displaying the pieces of history.

“I co-ordinate, overlook and interpret all the design plans,” he said. “We find solutions for displaying some objects.”

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This included a 50-kilogram crystal on a wooden stand and a 350kg cart that needed to be displayed on a platform. “I love it. I think it’s great,” he said.

Dr Wills has been working behind the scenes for the last four years to help bring Cairns Museum to life as well as curating the Changing Cairns gallery, which focuses on events and industry that has helped to shape the region.

She praised the volunteers helping with the project and those in the community who had supplied pieces for the museum. “It’s really been a collaborative effort,” Dr Wills said.

Mr Marendy has been working on the textile history of Cairns. “I really like the hats,” he said.

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