Q&A with MAC yapang volunteer Hanneke Bongers

Published on 20 September 2024

Tell us a bit about where you're from and your professional history?

I was born in the Netherlands and was always interested in art (drawing/painting) and craft (sewing my own clothes and designs) from a young age. No wonder then, I studied art after high school at the Academy of Visual Arts, and after that I was a teacher for 5 years.

I met my Australian partner, who was studying in the same town as I and we decided to move to Australia, Sydney, where he was born. 

He landed a job in Melbourne and when we moved there I decided to study again as a graphic designer (as none of my degrees were recognised in Australia and my English wasn’t that great, at the time).  I took English classes and we decided to speak English at home to make my transition to Australian language easier.

What followed was nine years in Melbourne, a brief stint in the Netherlands again (9 months to find out if we wanted to live there again), and then back to Sydney. 

I worked in Sydney as a graphic designer for over 20 years with different publishers. I enjoyed the creative side of it and challenges, but later became sick and tired of deadlines and late nights, I quit the demanding environment and so I studied again, this time Art Therapy/Lifestyle in aged care. 

I loved to interact with people in different stages of their life, from dementia, well aware and so on. It's amazing what art, music, dance changes in what people perceive, encounter, enjoy! It made people feel alive with fine art, music and dance. 

I finally retired in 2018.

How did you become a volunteer at MAC yapang and how long have you been volunteering for?

After our retirement we moved to the Lake Macquarie area.  We explored the area and found numerous creative outlets, one being the lovely Museum of Art and Culture yapang. It was just up my alley and I became a volunteer in 2019, as well as at Rathmines and Warners Bay Theatres and MAP in Speers Point.  

I later became part of the Museum of Art and Culture Society as a member and Treasurer till 2023.

Now I mainly work as a MAC yapang volunteer, helping out on Wednesday and Friday mornings, most Sunday Sessions, events, exhibitions openings and whenever they need someone. I have the RSA and can help out in that area as well as many others.

What do you love most about volunteering at MAC yapang?

Making visitors feel welcome and sharing information about current exhibitions. I love talking with people about the art and their interests, countries where they come from, different exhibitions and giving information about this great area and the facilities we in Lake Macquarie share. 

Working with staff and other volunteers is also very enjoyable.

What would you like to tell someone who hasn’t been to MAC yapang before?

Giving them information about the exhibitions and every 3 months there is another exhibition with a week closure between, the Sculpture garden (handing over a map of the garden with information and place), having a coffee on the verandah overlooking the lake and magnificent surroundings. The amenities, and not to forget the fantastic gallery shop. 

Some of the courses and Sunday Sessions, the on Sunday mornings Art Space, if they have kids, Wednesday and Saturday gallery tours at 11am and any other enquiries they might have.

Who is your favourite artist and why?

My favourite artist is Van Gogh from the country I was born in. 

He had a beautiful technique and used brilliant colours. He had a poor life, the pain, the fears, financially and psychological and this shone through in his work. He had a story in paintings.

But I love a lot of artists, all in their own right. There are so many different techniques and media, like people – so diverse.

Image at top: Hanneke helping out at one of our ARTSPACE artmaking events for children.

Image at bottom: Hanneke (third from left) on a tour of the 'Shifter' exhibition, learning about some of the works by artist Rebecca Najdowski.