From the Australian War Memorial to the National Museum of Australia, Stephanie Bull has been curating Australian stories for nearly three decades. She recently stepped into the role of Director of Museum of Australian Democracy (MoAD). CW’s Jessica Cordwell chatted with Ms Bull about plans for the museum and the importance of our history.
1. Tell us why you took on this new role.
I am passionate about Australian history and social history and being able to tell those stories for the public on site and across the nation.
2. Have you always had an interest in politics?
I have a strong interest in social and Australian history; there are many facets to our nation’s history and I love telling that story. National collecting institutions, whether they are a gallery or a library or a museum but also local, regional museums, and community-run volunteer-run museums in country towns, all play a significant role in telling the story of our community. Here at MoAD, we get to do that on a national scale.
3. What do you have planned for MoAD?
We are just starting the process of developing a new strategic plan. To simplify it, there would be two key focus areas. One is to tell more of the story of the people here and on site and to take the story of the people’s house to the people around the country.
4. Who are the people on site?
Often, I think people might think of Old Parliament House as just being about the politicians but it’s absolutely not the case. There’s a whole community here. One of the things I was excited to learn when I started here, one of the heritage experts showed me the heritage kitchens here. In any one year, the kitchens would prepare 350,000 meals. It was a real city, a real hub.
5. Why is it important to share these histories?
Everyone’s history matters; everybody has a story. Everybody has a story to tell whether it is as individuals, communities, families, organisations or as a nation, these stories matter. Learning and understanding our past helps us shape and participate in the future.
Answers have been condensed for publication.
Keep up to date with the Museum of Australian Democracy; moadoph.gov.au
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