Rosemary Weaver: "The Inn is a magical building"
By Marieke Heeremans
Rosemary Weaver has worked in public relations (PR) for many years and has been operating her own communications business, Weaver Communications, since 1991. She has been able to draw on her PR experience and learn about her other interest, Australian history, in her charity work with the Arms of Australia Inn Museum. In an effort to pay tribute to her eight-year commitment to the Inn, Rosemary was recently nominated for the NSW Volunteer of the Year Award. She summed up her reaction to being nominated in one powerful statement: "Surprised!"
The Arms of Australia Inn Museum at Emu Plains is one of the oldest buildings in Penrith. Operating as a road side inn in the 1840's, the Nepean District Historical Society transformed it into a museum of local history for the Nepean district. Rosemary noted: "We have an annual open day in July, special luncheons and go on trips. It is completely run by volunteers. Some are from the local volunteer office and they spend fifteen hours a week at the Inn, and they are all very special people."
In her role as Publicity Officer, Rosemary is responsible for: "All press publicity, writing and producing brochures and the monthly magazine, all photography and videos of our events and special occasions." One of the special events she was recently working on was the Ulysses Club 2009 AGM. She explained that this is a large annual motorcycling event organised by the Ulysses Club that caters for the needs of the more mature rider. There is no lack of humor at the club as Rosemary told me their motto is: ‘Grow Old Disgracefully'. Rosemary continued: "We had a special exhibition on for that and we were open all week, instead of just the four days, which was very tiring as I was filming the Ulysees event at the same time."
The late Mr. John Gribble, Vice President, Nepean District Historical Society stated: "Rosemary utilises her own equipment and resources, donating not only her time and consumables but using her private car to carry out duties and attend meetings on behalf of the Society without financial recompense." Sadly, Rosemary recently informed me of John Gribble's sudden passing. He will be remembered for his extraordinary work and long-term commitment to the Inn and was honored in a special edition of the monthly magazine written by Rosemary.
In talking about how Rosemary learnt about the Society, she said: "A friend rang one Saturday afternoon and said I should get down to the Arms of Australia Inn Museum as there was a book launching and a special presentation to the members of the Nepean District Historical Society and I should film it. So I did and I have been there ever since."
What attracts Rosemary to the Society and what consequently made her stay for eight years, she explained, is because she loves learning about Australian history and meeting lots of different people. "I am interested in Australian history, and the Inn is a magical building."
Rosemary has a long history of involvement in charity work, dating back to when she was still living in the UK, her country of origin. Upon asking her what sparked her interest in volunteering, she stated in a very down to earth manner: "I don't think it was an interest as such. I just helped out with PR type things for people and organisations I was involved with."
Rosemary stated that she has volunteered with so many different organisations over the years, she cannot remember them all. It seems, and is perhaps illustrative of her selfless nature, that donating her time and expertise for free is something that one does without question. An attitude that, if shared by all, would certainly change the scope of volunteering.
After meeting some Australians and liked what they told her about the Australian way of life, she decided to make the move in 1964. Having already been involved in the Freedom from Hunger Campaign in the UK, she continued to help raise funds for the Campaign in Victoria from 1965 to 1969. The Campaign was directed at raising awareness of the issues of poverty around the world as well as getting the support of developed countries in anti-poverty programs in the developing world. "I was working in a Public Relations office in Melbourne and the Freedom from Hunger office was in the same building and, as I had been involved in the UK, was a natural thing to do."
Rosemary's involvement in charity work is not limited to the Uk and Australia. For many years she has travelled the world with her journalist husband, taking up residence in America, Egypt, and Israel. Visa restrictions prohibited her from doing paid work, yet this did not stop Rosemary from doing unpaid work. She explained: "Something to do, and probably habit! I helped my husband in the various countries, and as all parents do, got involved in my son's schools."
Assisting her husband who was working at Visnews, a British news gathering organisation, in Cairo and Tel Aviv proved to be a real challenge. "There were no mobile phones, no faxes, no internet, no e-mail and so on. All done the old fashioned way!" As a voluntary Coordinator her role involved: "Keeping London up to date on what was happening in Egypt via a very on-off international phone system. Keeping tags on the opposition, getting my husbands film to the airport to send back to the UK, things like that." In writing this down, I cannot help getting these images in my head of some time-pressed chase through a crowded city from a scene in a political thriller that I have watched at some point.
Having returned from overseas in 1990, Rosemary helped raise funds for people in need with Soroptimist International of the Hills District. John Gribble noted: "When the family relocated to the lower Blue Mountains, she helped start the Penrith branch."
Rosemary is someone who enjoys being involved in her local community. There are two other organisations that she donates her time to. She is a founding member of the Penrith Valley Home Based Business Network, which is a network for people, who like herself, work from home. Rosemary said: "After six years on the (steering) committee I stood down last year, and now only film their guest speakers at the monthly meetings with result we have a library of helpful topics for members to borrow."
She also works with an organisation called the Blue Wave. In 1813 three explorers, Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth became the first Europeans to cross the Blue Mountains. Rosemary is involved in planning a series of events over the next four years to celebrate the bi-centenary of this historical achievement.
Rosemary started her own communication business in 1991 and rides horses, reads and spends time in the garden between all of her charity commitments; she also looks after her granddaughter when required. After such a worldly and adventurous life, it seems there is still nothing slowing this extraordinary lady down.
The Centre
for Volunteering [ABN 28 002 416 024]
Level 2, 228 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000
T: 02 9261 3600 | F: 02 9261 4033 | E: info@volunteering.com.au | www.volunteering.com.au