About 70 volunteers are entirely responsible for the management, fundraising and upkeep of Franklin House.
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Armed with limited National Trust funding and little help from all levels of government – according to chairwoman Julie Dineen – the historic property relies on the tireless efforts of volunteers to accommodate visitors.
At its Open Day on Sunday, Franklin House’s volunteers expressed why they love the National Trust museum and why it needs community support.
“I love the little rooms and the history – it’s just something about Georgian history that is just wonderful,” volunteer Mal Streeter said.
“You just walk in and it wraps itself around you and you could almost imagine people living here in the 1800s.”
The Open Day took the place of the museum’s annual fair after inclement weather forced organisers to cancel.
The day featured bric-a-brac stalls, a secondhand book sale and entry into the home’s historic rooms.
Stefan Boscia
Stefan came to The Examiner after working as a copywriter at a digital media firm in Melbourne and interning at The Conversation. He is enthusiastic about reporting on business, local government and environmental issues. When he is not chained to his work desk, Stefan enjoys getting brunch, reading Saul Bellow novels and watching Carlton games.
Stefan came to The Examiner after working as a copywriter at a digital media firm in Melbourne and interning at The Conversation. He is enthusiastic about reporting on business, local government and environmental issues. When he is not chained to his work desk, Stefan enjoys getting brunch, reading Saul Bellow novels and watching Carlton games.
