PETER HAFFENDEN
has been with the Museum since its inception in 1984.
Director from 1997 -2008 he has been Finance Manager and Media Coordinator and has played a central role in guiding innovative projects that manifest the philosophy of this unique ecomuseum.
Peter has a background in economics, journalism, photography and arts which he enjoys bringing together to explore new ways to express the particular mix of the patchwork culture of this region he grew up in.


Museum events, projects and exhibitions developed
and co-ordinated by Peter include:

MEET THE NEIGHBOURS concerts 2006 and 2007
POBBLEBONK animals of the Maribyrnong River Estuary, 2005


Living Museum publications include:
YOUR HISTORY MATE
The work of a community museum in Melbourne's west, 1994
'BACK IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD
Remarkable insights from an ordinary world, 1988.
KOROROIT CREEK (brochure), 1985.

Peter continues to consult with the Living Museum and is co-director of Inherit Earth www.inheritearth.com.au

OLWEN FORD
Director of the Living Museum from its beginnings in 1984 until 1997.
Olwen is a well known local historian and it was her passion for investigating the history of the area and this site in particular that led to her being chosen as the Director for this new innovative ecomuseum.
Olwen has been an inspiration to us all and has guided the Museum through a remarkable evolution while holding onto its original aims and objectives.

For some years, Olwen continued as a consultant working on heritage projects, including heritage studies for the Cities of Brimbank, Hume and greater Dandenong.

Living Museum publications include:
EXPLORE MELBOURNE'S WEST A RESOURCE HANDBOOK,
C. Dennis & O. Ford, MLMW, 1987
MARIBYRNONG: ACTION IN TRANQUILITY,
O.Ford & P. Lewis, MLMW & Sunshine City Council, 1989
PIPEMAKERS PARK CONSERVATION PLAN,
O.Ford & G.Vines, 1998

Author of many local history publications including:
Harvester Town: the making of Sunshine, 1890-1925, Sunshine & District Historical Society, 2001

Olwen is an active member of the Sunshine & District Historical Society and founding
member of the Friends of the Black Powder Mill.

GARY VINES
Industrial Archaeologist and Heritage consultant Gary Vines produced many of the Living Museun heritage reports and studies and many other publictaions including books and brochures between 1987 and 2000. Currently engaged as Heritage Archaeologist with
Biosis research.

Member of the following:
Archaeological Advisory Committee and Engineering/Industrial Heritage Advisory Committee to Heritage Council Victoria; Industrial History Committee (1988-present; Chair 1992-94) and Conservation Standing Committee (1996-present) National Trust of Australia (Victoria).

Living Museum publications include:
Factories to the future: changes and continuity in the industries of Melbourne's west; Industrial Archaeology of Victoria (report); Guidelines for the Conduct of Archaeological Surveys; Pipemakers Park Maribyrnong, Conservation Analysis; Pastoral Properties on the Plains, (report); Work in Melbourne's West booklet series: Fabric and Fibre, Quarry and Stone, Meat and By-products, Farm and Dairy; Industrial Lands and Wetlands; Docklands Heritage Study, (report); Worth its Salt: A Natural and Cultural Heritage Study of Cheetham Saltworks, Laverton; Built To Last: An Historical and Archaeological Survey of Dry Stone Walls in Melbourne's Western Region; Industrial Heartland; Ecomuseum Broadsheets, Altona, Factory on the River, Getting Around, and Maribyrnong River; Tour Brochures: Meat Trail and Pipe Trail; Tour Brochures: Irrigating the Dry Plains, Built of Bluestone and Origins of Industry; Melbourne's Western Region Industrial Heritage Study; Western Ring Road Archaeological Study: Stage 2 Volume 1; Albion Explosives Factory Heritage Study; Chaff-mills in Melbourne's West, (report and brochure); Massey Ferguson Site Study Stage 2.

Many of these publications are available to purchase see the Living Museum PUBLICATIONS, others are accessible through the Living Museum RESOURCE CENTRE.

LARRY WALSH
Aboriginal cultural advisor, Larry Walsh gew up in Melbourne's west and is a well known iocal Aboriginal activist and storyteller. Larry is dedicated to promoting understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal culture to a broader population through exhibitions, talks and tours. He has acted as a mentor to many young local aboriginal people including several members of the Koorie Gardening Team and helped develop and deliver Aboriginal education programs in a wide variety of local primary and secondary schools. He wishes to display that Aboriginal people live as much in the modern world as intimately as they are connected to their past. He has participated in many museum programs and continues to work as a consultant with the Living Museum.

Living Museum projects and publications include:
STILL HERE,
a brief history of Aboriginal people in Melbourne's west (exhibition, video and catalogue) 1996
MEET THE NEIGHBOURS
2006 and 2007 ,performing local Aboriginal stories.
PUDDLEHUSH
performing local Aboriginal stories 2009

Larry Walsh storyteller at the Koorie Heritage Trust

KERRIE POLINESS
Practicing and exhibiting contemporary artist living in Melbourne's west. Kerrie's artwork is represented in major public collections nationally including ANG, NGV, QLD Art Gallery, Art Gallery of WA, MCA, Bendigo Art Gallery as well as in Deakin, Monash, Melbourne, Wollongong and Griffith University collections. At the Living Museum Kerrie has explored ways in which art can be used interpret and transfer knowledge about cultural, heritage and environmental issues, working in collaboration with people of Melbourne's west on a variety of projects. Kerrie has been associated with the museum since 1992 .

Living Museum projects and contribution to pubications include:
STILL HERE
exhibition and catalogue, working with Aboriginal Cultural Officer, Larry Walsh, 1996
PIONEER WOMENS SHELTER
design and production with St Albans History Society.1997
TOP FACTORY INTERPRETATIVE SIGNAGE
working with Gary Vines 1997-8
TOP FACTORY CD ROM
working with Joe Guario, Reg Hume and six contemporary artists.1998
THE PIPESTACKS
site identification sculpture built by Bruce Duff (ex- Humes worker) 1999
PICNIC
exhibition by nine contemporary artists in bluestone building and catalogue. 2004
POBBLEBONK
environmental exhibition design and production with Kevin Wood and Peter Haffenden. 2005

Kerrie is currently co-director of Inherit Earth and is represented by Anna Schwartz Gallery, Melbourne.

LIBBY McKINNON
Has had a long standing association with the Museum, has taken a position as the pre-eminent contemporary mosaic artist promoting the field as a credible part of the cultural industry and in developing community participation in the art form. She is President of The Mosaic Art Group Inc., a national organisation representing mosaic artists throughout the country.

Living Museum projects include:
THE HISTORY OF THE LAND GARDEN

HELEN LAFFIN
Currently (2010) Object Curator, University of Melbourne Archives
(Museums and Institutions industry)

Produced the exhibition Hear Our Voices, Women of Melbourne's West, an exhibition about women from the western suburbs of Melbourne who have made contributions to their community on issues that have been important to them.

Living Museum projects include:
HEAR OUR VOICES, WOMEN OF MELBOURNE"S WEST

COLEEN MARION
Founding Chairperson of the Western Suburbs Indigenous Gathering Place Association, Colleen has been associated with the Living Museum for many years.

THE GATHERING PLACE

REG BLOW
Aboriginal Cultural Consultant Reg Blow continues to work with the Living museum on a number of projects and programs.

Living Museum projects include:
CUSTODIANS WELCOME

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