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Ferrymead host, your job? |
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Credit: Elspeth Durloo
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Tuesday, 11 November 2008 |
 One of the most interesting places to work in the Heathcote Valley must
be down at Ferrymead Heritage Park. It's been a feature of our area since the mid 1960s and its early 1900s Edwardian township has a railway station, homes, picture theatre, school house,
church and a jail.
Occasionally we hear of opportunities to work at the place, so we
decided to find out from Elspeth Durloo, Ferrymead's Visitor Services Co-ordinator, what the job is like and which skills cut
the Ferrymead mustard. People focused - of course, flexible -
absolutely, but most importantly, why will you need them?
Welcoming visitors and seeing them enjoy a good day is what Elspeth enjoys best. Weekends are busy for Elspeth: "I know it must be the weekend when I hear the rumble of the tram as it rolls past my office. If there's steam coming from the direction of the Railways Section and I can hear bells and a toot toot, I know the steam train is running." Add in a sunny day on a holiday weekend and they are sure to be full.
Anybody who works at Ferrymead needs to be ready for anything. Take another look at the lady in the photograph, that's Elspeth, showing a friendly smiling face framed in Edwardian fashion. Over an authentic black blouse, she is wearing an antique collar of maltese lace that was handmade 100 years ago.
Elspeth trims her own hats as the ladies did back then, and the one she is wearing in the photograph is crowned with two real ostrich feathers for that authentic Edwardian look. It's hot work wearing a costume like this, but at least you won't have to make it worse by using starch and layers of petticoats.
An office that doubles as a historic chapel building, complete with stained glass windows, can make it feel like you are working '100 years ago'. I wondered if this extended to the office equipment: "Sorry to spoil the illusion, but our till is the latest and it only takes dollars, not pounds and shillings. We even have EFTPOS and a computer, so we only look antique! Our working conditions are in fact pretty 21st century."
It isn't just our Ferrymead visitors who come to have a good time, but the people who work here too. The park is made up of 20 volunteer societies and groups, with interests ranging from printing, film and rural history to trains, trams and Clydesdales. "I'm always rubbing shoulders with an army of volunteers who willingly and generously give of their time and expertise to make Ferrymead what it is."
Working at the place has given Elspeth a lot of memories. Her favourite memory is this: "Wee Zoe, our Ferrymead baby doll, being wheeled in the big Hyde Park pram on Event days... and people asking if she was 'real'!" I imagine it won't be long before anyone who works at Ferrymead will be able to share memories like this one.
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