Annual Report-2000-2001 - Western Australian Museum - The ...

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Staffing targets for volunteer recruitment were met
for all Education programs, and induction and
training requirements were fulfilled. Six new
volunteers joined us during the year. Ongoing and
refresher training was provided.
The Batavia Lecture Series proved a success yet again,
with local and international guests showcasing a
diverse and entertaining range of maritime heritage
topics. A change of venue from the Batavia Gallery
to the function room did not dampen the enthusiasm
of the public: recent lectures have attracted audiences
well in excess of capacity.
Highlights of school holiday programs included the
Easter Holiday premiere of ‘Pieces of Eight!’, a pirate
treasure trail developed by Education staff. This offbeat
and light-hearted family activity earned the
participants a pewter replica of a Western Australian
shipwreck coin at the end of the trail. Visitor Services
provided additional children’s activities, such as pirate
storytelling by talented Maritime Museum attendant
Julia Sylvester. The pirate program was the most
successful on record, with 1,000 children participating.
Education oversaw an increased involvement of
Visitor Services in school holiday programs, which
has further accorded the Museum status as an
excellent family venue.
The Education Section is committed to developing
and maintaining ties with the community. In March,
it was involved in Sea Week 2001, providing an
opportunity for Western Australian teachers to dive
on the Shark wreck-site off Rottnest Island, among
other activities during this all-day annual event. Curtin
University’s Sir Charles Court Young Leaders’ Program
uses the Maritime Museum as an annual venue, and
in partnership with Education has developed highly
successful programs that address the needs of special
student groups.
Western Australian Museum Annual Report 2000–2001
Western Australian Maritime Museum
The Education Section contributed specially
developed tours to Fremantle Heritage Week and
participated in the Fremantle Festival parade. The
section is taking the Museum into the community by
visiting schools and libraries, giving talks to
organisations, and being involved with other
education providers and volunteer guiding groups.
The submarine Ovens has continued to attract visitors
from all over the world—a total of more than 41,000.
The submarine is open to the public Friday to Sunday
and on Wednesday to Sunday during school
holidays. In consultation with the Education
Department, school groups tour the submarine on
Tuesday and Wednesday, with 222 school children
visiting during the year.
The 50 specially trained submarine guides received
the prestigious Fremantle Heritage Award for their
‘significant contribution to Fremantle’s social, cultural,
built or natural heritage’.
VALE FRANK BROEZE
UWA made a very sound decision in 1970 when it
gave the go-ahead to its newest member of staff, Dr
Franklin Jan Aart Broeze, to begin a course in Maritime
History. His linguistic talents saw him publish in
French, German, Dutch and English, with many
articles being translated into Spanish, Arabic and
Greek. His brilliance in teaching drew him to the
attention of the wider community and this is how
many of his Museum connections were made. We
were charmed by his rich, melodious voice on ABC
Radio 6WF programs, and he had a special talent
for communicating with the public on complex
philosophical and historical issues without
condescension or pretentiousness.
The Museum community and many hundreds of past
and present students were saddened when the news
came through that Professor Frank Broeze had finally
succumbed to cancer on 4 April 2001. All of us were