“One Saturday in 1990 Peter saw an ad in the paper for a public lecture by Macquarie University archaeologists and showed it to me because I’ve been fascinated with Egypt since high school. I can remember how much I loved the book we learned from in Ancient History class in Year 7, I was so inspired by it. I rarely read a novel, I always preferred getting books from the library about Egypt.
Volunteers: Carmel and Peter Amos have donated their time and talents to the work of the Australian Centre for Egyptology since 1990. Image: Joanne Stephan
After we came to the lecture, we joined up to The Rundle Foundation, which is a community for members of the public who are interested in learning about the University’s fieldwork and raises money to publish books and send students to Egyptian digs.
I then saw in the Foundation newsletter that they were looking for help in their office, so I started coming in here in 1991 and I am still here. Peter joined me seven years ago after he retired as an accountant.
The best thing about this experience is that it has given me computer skills I would never have gained otherwise.
The donor of the scholarship money asked for it to be called after us which was a great honour.
Once upon a time we used to stuff envelopes, but those days have gone – you need computer skills. I would never have learned so many things had I not been here. Even though we have never been to Egypt, we have met so many interesting people over the years. Being here has given me confidence.
Peter has an IT degree and looks after the Australian Centre for Egyptology website and, since 2012, I have been in charge of the office.
A scholarship in our name was set up last year, and the first recipient of it started this year. The donor of the scholarship money asked for it to be called after us which was a great honour.
We both come here to work in the office one day a week but the foundation has 350 members now so I often work when I am at home too as I like to keep things up to date.
I’m 77 now, so I will probably retire next year. We do know we are appreciated. A lot of people do say to us ‘we couldn’t do this without you’ which is nice to hear."
