Schools catch a virtual ride

THE Australian National Surfing Museum (ANSM) in Torquay has started running virtual tours for school groups to ensure its vast collection of surfing artifacts does not go unappreciated during lockdown,

ANSM Visitor Information co-ordinator Evelyn Whitelaw said the virtual tours provide a chance to continue providing excursions to not only local schools but also those further afield.

“We have school groups regularly come to visit, probably around 25-40 each month.

“We’re hoping all the other schools that we’re currently working with who weren’t able to come during the current restrictions will be interested in coming too.

“The new schools we’re engaging with on our virtual tours aren’t from our usual catchment, which is the really exciting thing.”

The ANSM is well-equipped to hold virtual tours. They participated in Google’s Great Sporting Land exhibit last year. For the exhibit, the museum worked for two years photographing and transcribing stories on the most iconic items in their vast collection.

Staff from Google also went through the museum with the same technology used in Google Street View to allow online visitors to navigate their way through the museum.

ANSM project and tours officer Gary Dunne has been hosting the tours. He said the he has been pleased with how they had run.

“It’s been really good. The students seem to enjoy them. The technology’s there, so it makes sense to use it.

“It’s just good to continue sharing the stories of Australia surfing with school groups.”

Ms Whitelaw said the positive response to the tours meant they would likely remain part of the museum’s offerings in the future.

“We will absolutely be looking to continue this sort of thing. It’s exciting that it’s something we can do to reach our audience across Australia.”

Schools interested in participating in virtual tours can phone the museum on 5261 4606.