Cairns, 19^th March, 2021 – The Cairns Historical Society is seeking a forward thinking executive officer to guide the organisation’s strategic direction.

Clive Skarott, president of the Cairns Historical Society, said the time had come for the Society, which has continued to grow, to appoint a management professional at the helm. 

“This is a new position and a positive step for Cairns Historical Society, which was founded in 1958,” Mr Skarott said.

The not-for-profit organisation also operates the Cairns Museum, which has grown in popularity and use by both the local community and visitors.

“We have amazing staff and volunteers and they have proved their dedication and commitment to preserving and sharing the history of Cairns and the Far North region, especially with the difficulties presented by the Covid-19 restrictions.”

Mr Skarott said as well as implementing the organisation’s vision, mission and overall strategy, the executive officer would be hands on in guiding and evaluating the work of the society’s different departments and volunteer workforce.

“Another important part of the role will be engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in accordance with cultural protocols.

“A major initiative for Cairns Historical was the formation of an Indigenous Roadmap Committee with the aim of bringing stronger engagement with Indigenous people, “ he said. 

The organisation’s Archives and Research Centre database hold about 39,000 items, including maps, plans, posters, books, bulletins of Cairns, Eacham and Mulgrave shire historical societies, journals and periodicals, early Far North Queensland business ledgers, newspaper clippings and photographs. 

Around 19,000 have been digitised in whole or part and these can be viewed on screen. For further information, or a copy of the job description, please call Leslie on 0403 877 318. The position advertised on Seek will close on Sunday, March 21 at 5pm, however applications will be accepted until March 28, 5pm.

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 Cairns Historical Society

The Organisation

The Cairns Historical Society (CHS) was founded in 1958. It also operates the iconic Cairns Museum

Overview

Reporting to the CHS Management Committee, the Executive Officer (EO) has overall responsibility for implementation and integration of the strategic direction of the organisation. This includes responsibility for all components and departments of the business.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Implement the organisation’s vision, mission, and overall strategy.
• Reporting to, and soliciting advice and guidance from, the CHS Management Committee
• Liaising with Cairns Regional Council for all business management issues
• Engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in accordance with, and understanding of, cultural protocols.
• Representing the organisation in a civic and professional capacity 
• Participating in industry-related events 
• Leading, guiding, directing, and evaluating the work of the CHS sections and volunteer workforce.
• Ensuring a culture of respect underpins work practices.

Education, Experience

It is preferable that the EO is tertiary education and has a proven record of management experience. Experience in one or more of the following areas will be highly regarded:  HR, financial oversight, not-for-profit sector, cultural collections sector, digital literacy and volunteer management.

Skills & Competencies

Interpersonal, Analytical, Leadership, Management, Computer, HR and Marketing skills

To Apply 

Please click on the button below and attach your resume and cover letter. For further information, or a copy of the job description, please call Leslie on 0403 877 318.

Applications close on March 28, 5pm. 

Caring for family heirlooms and collections at home is easy with a little know how and the right advice from Cairns Historical Society and Museum.

Cairns Museum’s Cairns Historical Society Collections Manager, Melanie Sorenson, said free conservation advice clinics were being offered to members of Cairns Historical Society and Cairns Museum on the first Friday of every month from February until November.

“Advice sessions can offer easy tips and tricks on caring for precious items and where to go for specialist treatment if needed,” Ms Sorenson said.

Members are invited to book for a free 15-minute session with Ms Sorenson and bring one item to discuss its care and any concerns. Sessions are limited to two participants and one item per session. People wishing to bring two items must book two time slots.

“General conservation and collection care advice will be offered,” Ms Sorenson said. “No valuation information or treatment will be provided or undertaken during these sessions, although advice may be given on where to find appropriate expertise and where to get an appraisal.”

The conservation clinics begin on February 5 and run from 10am, with the last appointment offered at 3pm. Members may book through the Cairns Museum website at www.cairnsmuseum.org.au  

The sessions are not for donations to the museum collection.

Other organisations, including historical societies seeking advice, may book a separate appointment with Ms Sorenson at collections@cairnsmuseum.org.au

Cairns Historical Society has wrapped up another successful year with continued visitor growth at Cairns Museum, further investment in educational school programs and completion of the Edmonton Collection store just some of the highlights in 2018/19.

Speaking at the recent annual general meeting, Clive Skarott, president of the Cairns Historical Society, said the not-for-profit organisation had ticked off a number of achievements over the last 12 months.  

“A softening in the tourism industry, particularly in the second half of the year, has been noticeably felt.

“That said, our financial performance and visitor numbers, including our efforts to grow the school market remained strong.”

Mr Skarott said the visitor market to Cairns Museum was split with 21 percent local, 43 percent domestic and 36 percent international.

He said the Society’s decision to invest in a dedicated collections manager had also been another important long-term decision.

“Having a dedicated collections manager has ensured best practice care of the Society’s collection, which includes nationally significant books and documents, newspapers, clippings and audio-visual material.

“Melanie Sorenson’s appointment has also allowed us to recruit new volunteers with a diverse range of background and skills, as well as helped us to build the skills of the Society’s existing volunteer base who assist in the care of this collection.”

Mr Skarott said a grant from the Gambling Community Benefit Fund also allowed for the purchase of a ductless fume-hood cabinet and museum vacuum, to assist in this preservation work.

“These items will be integral when we process our mould effected material and deteriorating film and tapes.”

The 2018/19 year also saw the relocation of the Society’s off-site collection to a new purpose built Edmonton store.

“Volunteers transferred over 160 boxes to the new site. This has been a major achievement for the Society, enabling greater capacity to accommodate future acquisitions in the climate controlled storage space at the School of Arts site in the Cairns CBD.   

“Acquisition highlights include the land and deed ledgers from MacDonnells Law and the Les Paul Miniature Furniture Collection among a vast array of donations offered to the Society from the Cairns community,” Mr Skarott added.

Looking ahead, the next year will see major progress on the digitisation program. “Volunteers are being trained in using the new equipment and the first set of materials – fragile journal articles – will be digitised by the end of this financial year.”

Mr Skarott thanked staff and volunteers for the year’s work – the Society currently has 90 volunteers ranging in age from 16 to 80.

“Volunteers clocked up a staggering 22,488 hours, which if paid out at $20 an hour is a significant contribution of $250,000,” he added.

Mr Skarott said 2019/2020 promised to be another busy year as the organisation looked to new initiatives and ways of sharing its collection, which through the generosity of the community, continued to grow.

COACH TOUR OF DOUGLAS SHIRE HERITAGE

It’s on again!

Join the Cairns Historical Society and the FNQ Branch of the National Trust for a Heritage coach tour of our northern neighbours on Sunday 19th May.

The tour will visit sites at Daintree Village, Mossman and Port Douglas, with Jan and Dawn providing social history and heritage commentary. 

Morning Tea will be at Daintree Village, with the Society providing devonshire scones and coffee available for purchase. Lunch will be under the beautiful rain trees  at St David’s church, so BYO as the cafe’s may not be open on a Sunday.

Meet at the Cairns Museum at 8.45 am, for a short walk to the bus departure point at Abbott St. The bus will leave at 9 am. You will be dropped back at Abbott St (outside the regional gallery) at 5pm.

The cost will be $40 per person and pre-payment is required. You can pay in person at the Museum or book online now.

As numbers are limited, please book early to avoid disappointment. For more information contact the Museum

See you on the bus!

It was the most important item at your wedding – apart from your partner of course – but now your beautiful bridal gown is unceremoniously shoved under the bed, hidden away in a wardrobe or even the star of the kids’ dress-up box.

That will all change with Cairns Museum offering former brides an opportunity to resurrect their wedding dresses and correctly store them for a prettier posterity.

The workshops are part of the Museum’s current Dressed to Impressfashion exhibition and aim to give participants techniques to store their dress properly – covering packaging basics and how to keep your garment as perfect as the day you floated down the aisle. 

The workshops are co-hosted by Sorenson Art Conservation, with support from the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF). 

The expert advice will cover the characteristics and environmental sensitivities of different fabrics and features of wedding gowns and veils such as lace, silk, sequins and beads. 

It will equip attendees with the knowledge needed to safely store their precious and probably pricey wedding gown including where to order a textile box and packing materials.

Two lucky participants will have their wedding dress professionally packed during the course of the workshop.

Melanie Sorenson, conservator at the Cairns Museum, said wedding dresses were not only a beautiful memory but often an intricate piece of art.

“They are made of exquisite fabrics and embellishments and each part needs special attention to keep the garment pristine. They need to be looked after carefully given they are typically worn once and then packed up.”

“Workshop participants not only get to look and admire their wedding dress again but also appreciate the workmanship and beauty of it and learn how to keep the garment and veil safe and unspoiled.

“Those attending will also be able to order a textile box pack and receive an instruction sheet on DIY packing and storing textiles at home.”

During the course of the workshops, Ms Sorenson said she was hoping to hear some great stories of weddings in the Far North

No cleaning or conservation treatment will be undertaken at the workshop.Attendees are invited to bring one wedding gown and one veil only to the workshop.

Participation costs $40 and there are two sessions: March 28 –  5.30pm to 8.30pm and March 30 – 2pm to 5pm. They will be held at the Cairns Museum. 

For more information contact info@sartconservation.com or to book your place visit https://www.trybooking.com/BBQLK.

A new Cairns Walking Tour steps out tomorrow and back into the past, tracing the evolution of this beautiful tourism city from its beginnings as a humble port built on a mosquito-infested swamp to the international drawcard it is today.

The 90-minute walk begins at the Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal, passes the port, which saw Cairns usurp Port Douglas as the sea link for the hinterland, and takes in historic buildings, natural sights, old Chinatown and special places that are part of the tropical lifestyle and which make Cairns ‘home’.

The two-hour experience culminates at the Cairns Museum, in the refurbished School of Arts building on the corner of Lake and Shields Streets.

Here walkers can relax on the best tropical verandah in town and learn more about the unique and colourful history of the most northerly city on Australia’s East coast.

Clive Skarott, president of Cairns Historical Society, said it hoped the new tour would become a “must do” for locals and their visitors.

“The Cairns Walking Tour is an interesting look into the story that began with land occupied by Traditional Aboriginal Owners, then a frontier town populated by entrepreneurs, adventurers and misfits and now, 142 years later, is a leading tourism destination,” Mr Skarott said.

“We are excited to offer something for our local residents, to give them an insight into how the people who came before us lived, the pride they felt in our place and what they achieved.

“It’s the festive season, a time to be generous. We encourage locals to take up our very generous 50 percent discount offer during December and enjoy two hours or more of quality entertainment and insight, plus a little gentle exercise, and walk in the steps of our city founders – all for $16.50.”

The walk is suitable for people fit enough to walk two kilometres at a moderate pace in hot and humid conditions.

Walkers are advised to take the usual precautions of wearing comfortable shoes, carry some water, wear a hat and sunglasses and cover up or use sunscreen.

Cairns Walking Tours will take place every Saturday at 8am. The usual ticket price is $33 (half-price through December).

For more information or to book your place contact the Cairns Museum on 4051 5582 or visit www.cairnsmuseum.org.au

WE’RE GETTING STRATEGIC!

The Cairns Historical Society is excited to welcome aboard Tanya Snelling and Strategic PR as our Marketing and Sales specialists.

Strategic PR is an established consultancy operated by Tanya, specialising in content creation for advertising and editorial, copy writing, publicity and public relations. Tanya is an experienced communicator with over 20 years working history in the media industry encompassing newspapers, magazines and public relations, which has taken her to the other side of the world and back.

Born in Cairns, Tanya gained a Bachelor of Journalism from James Cook University and major in political science before commencing her career at the Port Douglas & Mossman Gazette. After many years of journalism, including a stint in London, she returned to Cairns to establish her own public relations business, Strategic PR.

Strategic PR specialises in public relations for the business, agriculture and tourism industries. She became the owner/publisher of the Downunder Travel Bulletin in 2013, an international business to business travel trade publication dedicated to Australia’s inbound tourism industry, which has been an institution for three decades. Her network extends far beyond Australian shores, encompassing key tourism markets for Australia including the US, Canada, UK and Europe.

Tanya will maintain and grow our relationships amongst our important tourism industry partners, as well as develop our communications across both traditional and new media channels. We have a great story to share and we’re looking forward to working with Tanya and Strategic PR to make sure it’s heard far and wide.

COULD YOU TAKE US TO THE WORLD?

The Cairns Museum and Historical Society are seeking a Marketing professional with the experience, contacts and drive to grow and develop the the Cairns Museum as a local experience in the Cairns tourism market.

The role requires strong tourism marketing and sales background, a current knowledge of the Cairns market and expertise in traditional and new media platforms. There is a strong communications element to the role so experience in PR and writing is essential.

You will need to be able to activate your existing networks, identify and connect with new markets and be media savvy.

It is a part-time role but, with your help, we want to increase resourcing next financial year.

Interested?

Read the PD

Still interested?

Email us for the selection criteria