Volunteers uncover 75 years of excellence at Peter Mac
02 August 2024
Two expert volunteers have explored the rich history of Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, archiving precious materials and curating a 75th Anniversary historical exhibition.
Lyndel Wischer and Bridget Slattery spent months locating and cataloguing documents, photographs, objects and film collected over Peter Mac’s seven and a half decades.
They consulted closely with a panel of long-serving staff and the families of Peter Mac founders Sir Peter MacCallum and Dr Rutherford Kaye Scott, collecting valuable reminiscence along the way.
The result of their efforts is an impressive display of historic objects and photographs, a meticulously compiled timeline, and a suite of moving patient stories.
They also contributed to the creation of a new short film telling the story of Peter Mac.
Opened ahead of Peter Mac’s Open House Melbourne last week, patients, visitors and staff have been exploring the exhibition with interest.
“It highlights how far cancer care and research has come over 75 years,” explains Ms Wischer.
“It was clear that caring for people according to their individual needs has always been a priority at Peter Mac, so it was important for us to get that across.”
“Another strong theme is the integration of cancer research, treatment and education, which has been central to Peter Mac’s success since the beginning.”
A seasoned cultural management professional, Ms Wischer is Director of Ziebell’s Farmhouse Museum & Heritage Garden and has worked extensively with archives throughout her career to support exhibition development.
Ms Slattery, a Museum Studies graduate, came to Peter Mac with a strong interest in science and healthcare. She has just completed a Masters Degree in Bioethics.
Find Peter Mac’s 75th Anniversary historical exhibition ‘Some Days are Diamonds’ on Level 7 at the Parkville campus.
