Starting out as a volunteer and now Museum Preparator of 30 years at the Melbourne Museum, Dean Smith’s daily work could range from de-fleshing washed up whales to recording taxidermy data for researchers.
Together with Ewin Wood, Smith has a dedicated studio, Museum Makers in Castlemaine, Victoria catering to different projects.
I volunteered in the department as I was furthering my sciences studies at night school. A position became available after a few years of this, and 35 years later I am still employed as a Preparator at the Museum.
