Volunteer Roles
What do our volunteers do?
When you become a volunteer with us you join a team of passionate people who work together to carry out the many tasks that need to be done to keep the Village going.
You may choose to work in a public role (in costume) or behind the scenes in a support role. Wherever you choose, we will value your contribution. All volunteers receive training when they start, as well as ongoing.
Gardening
Gardening volunteers assist our village gardener with a variety of gardening tasks in our historical gardens. Bed preparation, planting and cultivation, and harvesting will be a few of the tasks undertaken. Gardening volunteers should have an interest in traditional crops and may be involved in researching appropriate plants.
Building maintenance
We need volunteers with carpentry or repair skills to assist with ongoing maintenance of our buildings. The buildings in the Village date from 1840 and require on-going conservation. The maintenance must be done with appropriate materials and in a manner that ensures the building is presented in an historically correct way.
Caring for our buildings
Housekeeping at the Village is based on our ‘Adopt a Cottage’ scheme in which volunteers are responsible for the regular, on-going cleaning of a nominated building.
Conservation
We have an expansive collection of historical items dating from Fencible history during the 1840s and onwards. We require volunteers with skills or interest in conserving and maintaining the integrity and quality of our collection items.
Guiding visitors
Meeting visitors is a rewarding and stimulating experience. A volunteer guide will meet and greet all visitors ensuring they are presented with the history of the Village. Through initial and on-going training, volunteer guides will over time build a knowledge of the 1840-1880 period and the Fencible settlement in particular. A volunteer guide should possess good interpersonal skills, communication skills and enjoy imparting knowledge to others. This role is costumed.
Event participation
Meet the Villagers days are held on the third Sunday of each month except December. They are days on which the Village presents ‘living history’ in greater depth than is possible on other weekends.
The Meet the Villagers participant’s role is to interact with the visitor and to make the Village come alive for that person. The role is costumed, and the live day participant should have a good knowledge of the Fencibles and the 1840-1880 period. You will be part of a team recreating many crafts and activities.
Music
We are always looking for volunteers with musical skills that can perform historical music to liven the atmosphere during our events and live days.
Crafts
The Village strives to achieve authenticity in depicting activities from the 1840-1880 period including demonstrating crafts of the period. Craft demonstrations can be carried out by volunteers during our live day events.
Photography
There are volunteer opportunities for keen photographers, skilled or amateur, who are wanting to capture the Village, its buildings, as well as photograph our events.