Sep 16, 2011
The Rocks Discovery Museum scoops an Interpretation Australia National Award for Excellence
It was a delightful surprise when Melinda Loe, manager of educational services and tours at Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, told me that she had entered The Rocks Discovery Museum in this year’s Interpretation Australia (IA) Awards for Excellence – and moments later was up on stage at IA’s 18th National Symposium accepting a silver award.
The AOM team became hooked on interpretation when they developed 13 displays for the museum: some interactive (The Byrne Family Timeline, Stories of The Rocks, Cribbs Well) and some linear (Flooding of the Sydney Basin).
Since the museum opened in 2006, two new displays have been added that continue to educate, entertain and engage museum audiences – as well as award judges it seems. The Rocks Discovery Dig is a game designed by AOM for kids, which can be played online or offline, and the Nowey Canoe is a model built by school students using traditional Aboriginal technologies, showcased in a touch-screen exhibit created by AOM.
Being hooked on interpretation now has new meaning for me personally, having been appointed IA’s treasurer at the AGM that followed the awards.
Find out more about Interpretation Australia.
