By ALESHA CAPONE
Young Deer Park resident Eva Rivera volunteers at the Sunshine and District Historical Society. 108927 Picture DAMJAN JANEVSKI
AT SEVEN years old, Deer Park’s Eva Rivera was inspired to search her backyard for ancient treasures after watching the film Indiana Jones.
Ms Rivera, now 27, has fulfilled her childhood dream of becoming an archaeologist, completing degrees in ancient history and archaeology at Monash University.
However instead of raiding a lost ark like Harrison Ford’s character, Ms Rivera’s present project has her rifling through the Sunshine and District Historical Society’s (SDHS) photographic archives.
Ms Rivera is helping to organise the pictures by conducting research and preserving them for future generations.
“I don’t see it as a chore,” Ms Rivera said.
“I come in and try to help. It’s exciting and it keeps you on your toes.
“It’s very important to me that we preserve things.”
There are more than 2000 photos in the society’s collection, but this number is no match for the dedicated young volunteer.
“I started the month after I began here and I literally only hit file #345 yesterday, so I have a lot of files to go,” Ms Rivera said.
“There are always one to two photos which stop me dead in my tracks.
“Usually they are of Sunshine at the turn of the century with people in period clothing, or Deer Park.
“That’s why photos are such a unique, important resource – it’s like seeing a moment in history through someone’s eyes.”
In addition to her role at the SDHS, Ms Rivera volunteers at the Glen Eira Historical Society.
She said archaeology was a “very competitive field” and she is keen to get as much practical experience as possible.
Ms Rivera has been on digs in Tuscany and England, and also Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Market which built on top of a graveyard.
“In the long term – even if it’s just here – I hope I can help in some small way to preserve the wonderful history we have here in Australia,” said.
