Kristen Tola

With the striking buildings that house Newcastle Museum as our backdrop, heritage consultant and archaeologist Kristen, wearing her work ‘hi-vis’, is in her element. Aboriginal archaeology is her focus and she beams as she shows us the ‘living exhibition’ of native plants that once grew in abundance on the banks of the Hunter before European settlement – Red Cedar, Coastal Banskia and Tea Tree to name just a few of the species we see. Having previously worked at the Museum in business support, clocking up almost ten years of service, Kristen undertook further study during her time there to pursue her childhood dream of becoming an archaeologist. Expressly aware of the important relationships and sensitivities her consultancy work involves, Kristen tells of “the privilege of working with people in Aboriginal communities … to help them rebuild the stories” adding “we’ve built our buildings over the top, we’ve occupied … someone else’s land”. It’s clear from our conversation that Kristen is intensely reflective of her challenging but rewarding professional role.

A good student at school, with a love of Humanities subjects and excelling in sport, Kristen was left shocked and embarrassed after a disappointing ATAR that prevented her from entering university; made all the more devastating because her parents were both teachers. Under the old system where everything rode on your results from HSC exams, the pressure seriously undermined her performance. “My parents had great expectations … and friends were going out celebrating” Kristen shares tearily as she thinks back to 1990 when she “felt like a failure”. Keen to escape Newcastle, Kristen made a plan to move to Western Australia for work and despite experiencing a major educational setback, maintained a strong sense of herself as a studious individual, resolving that she would one day attend university.

Commencing Open Foundation in 1995, Kristen had a revelation:

… the lecturers treated me like an adult, and spoke to me in ways that empowered me. I felt happy, elevated and capable. I was excited to finally start my university career.

Studying a Bachelor of Arts, with a plan to study Psychology, she eventually gave into her passion and majored in Classical Studies. Reflecting on her childhood fascination with National Geographic magazines, Kristen recalls a vivid memory of seeing photographs of the discovery of the Mary Rose – a 16^th Century naval vessel that sank during battle – thinking at the time that it was somehow linked to her professional destiny but unsure of how to get there. Undertaking an Honours project, Kristen proudly reveals that she won a university prize for her research thesis on the late Bronze Age ‘Uluburun’ shipwreck. Kristen has happy memories of her time at the University of Newcastle, meeting her partner of twenty-five years, Chris, whilst a student there; the couple marrying in 2004 and having two daughters in close succession, Sophia in 2005 and Luisa in 2007. More study followed with a qualification in Museum Studies from the University of Sydney. Not content to rest on her laurels, Kristen went on to do a Master of Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies specialising in Heritage Practice at Deakin, then further postgraduate study at Flinders, a Graduate Certificate in Archaeology, all the while raising her girls and working. With her hard work towards gaining so many qualifications and also currently volunteering on the NSW Crown Lands Newcastle Historic Reserve Land Manager, Kristen has reached a deeply satisfying place in her career, declaring with a big smile that she’s over 50 and still learning – and loving what she does every day.

Story by Jo Hanley

Photos by Visual Communication Design student, Kristen Zahra

For more information visit Hunter Living Histories