Volunteer stories: preserving collections with Nick Nicholson

Why did you decide to become a volunteer at Riversdale?

I moved to Goulburn from Canberra in 2020 when the pandemic lockdown started, so when I moved here it was like a ghost town. I needed something to get me involved in the local community, and I wanted to be involved in something in the cultural sector that would relate to my background in music, photography and art.

When I saw a National Trust (NSW) ad looking for a volunteer Conservation Assistant, it seemed to tie in well with my past experience working with collections and handling objects and rare books. I started at Riversdale in April this year and have been thoroughly enjoying it ever since.

What does your role involve?

It’s pretty varied. When I first started volunteering, I cleaned books and did an audit of all the objects at the property. After that, I took the initiative to conduct a major spring clean of the storage rooms around the property. I methodically cleaned the rooms, put them back in an organised fashion, and now they’re functional storage rooms.

The latest project I’m working on is photographing the objects at Riversdale. I used to teach black-and-white photography in Canberra, so it’s great to work on this project and get good-quality photos that can eventually be shared with the public.

I’ve also done a bit of travel while I’ve been here. I’ve been down to Bedervale in Braidwood on a few working bees, which involved cleaning over 1,000 books. I’ve also been to Golden Vale and Cooma Cottage to help clean collection items.  It’s been really varied, and very interesting.

What’s the best part of volunteering so far?

I’m especially enjoying the photography project – it produces tangible results and contributes to the National Trust’s overall mission. I’d love to do it full time as a job!

I’ve also really enjoyed meeting the other volunteers and being around like-minded people with a similar interest in preserving heritage. I think it’s important to preserve history and know where we came from – it all speaks to our national identity.

What advice would you give to anyone thinking of volunteering?

I would say just do it. It’s great if you want to meet new people and develop some new skills. The social aspect is really great as well. I enjoy meeting up regularly, chatting, and sharing lunch together. Even a couple of hours a week can make a difference. For me it’s about giving back to the community, preserving history and making it relevant. If you’re thinking about volunteering, jump in.

Ready to get started? Choose from a range of volunteer roles at the National Trust and help us conserve and share our heritage. Register today.