WESLEY DALE CHUDLEIGH

There is probably no better introduction to the role of archivist at Geelong Grammar than to take a phone call from someone who can claim tenure of almost one-third of the School’s existence. Darren Watson had been in the archivist’s position for less than a month when Frank Covill (Staff 1953–2003) phoned, alerting him to a plethora of material he wanted to donate to the archives. “He informed me it covered a couch. Upon visiting him, I found that the collected memorabilia did indeed cover a couch – to the height of a foot or more – and extended somewhat beyond it! It ultimately filled my entire car.”

Though such large donations are infrequent, they are not atypical. As a result, our school archives contain an enormous range of material, including photograph albums, medals, scrapbooks, prize books, ephemera ranging from Speech Day programs to cash receipts, correspondence, obscure objects, uniforms and shelves of trophies. Managing it all requires an experienced and steady hand, and thus it is fortunate for GGS that Darren comes to us after a 30-year career with the National Archives of Australia, most recently as manager of public engagement at the Victorian office. School historian, Sophie Church – who regularly uses the GGS collection to create displays and write articles about interesting people and events – spoke to Darren about his explorations in the GGS archives and the value of history.

Darren, meeting Frank was a great introduction to your role as archivist. What impression did he give you about GGS?

In the course of that initial visit, I had a long and very enjoyable talk with Frank about his experience of Geelong Grammar. Looking through his memorabilia revealed a wealth of sources for exploring the history of the School. Frank recognised that GGS is a unique working environment and I think he was interested to know what my response to that had been. I was happy to be able to tell him at that stage that, although there was some adjustment on my part required, I felt I had been embraced by everyone whom I had met from the school community. I am really enjoying the role!

What has surprised you about the role thus far, and how does it compare to your role in the National Archives?

The diversity of tasks and responsibilities which the role demands are very different from what is much more of a single-focused role within the National Archives, where you are working with other archivists on mutually supporting tasks. That’s also been one of the greatest satisfactions with this role – the professional opportunities that it provides to develop understandings and skills, and exercise initiative in a variety of different directions.

Why did you decide to become an archivist?

I heard about the job of archivist from a careers advisor when I was still in high school. I have a recollection of sending off to the National Archives for some career information! Moving forward, I had a deep love of history and historical studies, and the role of archivist is a very good fit for that.

So what advice do you have for students considering a career in the museum and heritage sector?

Go out and get as much experience in as many different facets of the sector as you can because all that experience ultimately will stand by you. Don’t pigeonhole yourself because there is scope to acquire a diversity of skills across the sector, which is both personally rewarding and will also take you forward professionally. Just enjoy it. It demands a certain individual passion, and it does give you scope to pursue that. It’s a very personally rewarding sector to work in for that reason.

It’s hard to describe the allure of history – for me, it’s a constant inspiration and often past times seem more interesting than the present day! Why does history engage you?

What I enjoy about history is discovering differences with societies of the past but also those points of shared humanity. The two of those exist in tension a little bit, but both in their own way are enticing for anyone who is undertaking historical research – people with the same motivations but expressing them in an entirely different context, which often demands different approaches. I find that really interesting.

Of course, being an archivist means capturing the present as well as the past. What does this mean in a school context?

You’re really engaging with the continuity of the school as a living institution. You’re doing it a disservice by looking at it purely as an extension of its own past. It’s a dynamic institution. It’s creating its own reality as it moves forward, and my role is to ensure that changing reality is captured in a way that it can be understood by members of the school community and by others into the future.

That’s a lovely segue to the observation that the preservation of our past is crucial. As the Australian History Councils have recently surmised in a joint statement on the value of history, ‘The study of the past and telling its stories are critical to our sense of belonging, to our communities and to our shared future’. Now in the 167th year of its existence, this statement is as true at Geelong Grammar as anywhere!