John Retallick reveals how he helps 8 year olds to understand what’s life was like in the 1820s, how he connects children of the digital age with the silent movie era and how history in the museum can help to rehabilitate prisoners. He will share some of the programs, approaches and experiences at the coalface connecting historical research and narrative with the public. When does it work, when does it fall short and what might it look like in the future.
John develops and delivers history-related education and public programs at TMAG. After spending four years working in the community development sector in the UK and PNG he found himself working at Museum Victoria in 2005 and now 13 year something later thinks that the museum sector might be just for him. He also thinks he might be the last person in Australia to have been up from school in a horse and buggy.