Nat started Australia’s first ever taxidermy workshops in 2014. She quickly recognised a need for greater access to the dying arts – ‘dying’ both in terms of skill sets no longer being taught in this country as well as a safe space to engage in dialogue on topics surrounding death.
Through the expansion and popularity of her curriculum it has become clear that the bookishness of modern science and the elitism of academia can often serve to isolate people or prevent access to this rich and rewarding knowledge-base.
Nat’s unique education model has seen her and her team tour nationally and internationally. Together they have taught people from all walks of life from members of the general public with a curious mind right through to museum staff, teaching faculty, lecturers and academic students.
Nat has recently joined the team in the Anatomy and Physiology lab at the University of Melbourne and is also the proud recipient of the George Alexander Fellowship.
Gavin has been working in the university sector primarily in Anatomical Sciences across both Human Medicine and more recently, Veterinary Sciences. During his 20 years of working in the industry he has gained extensive experience in plastination techniques, museum preparation techniques as well as anatomical embalming and dissection. Gavin’s experience spans working on things large and small, from rats, cats and dogs through to humans and all the way up to horses.
Gavin is currently the Manager of Technical Operations in the School of Chemistry where he oversees a team of 14 staff and all the daily technical activities that happen within the school.
He was also the President of the Australasian Institute of Anatomical Sciences www.aias.net.au from 2017 to 2020 whereby, he lead significant growth and participation of the society to its highest levels ever.
Gavin is the facilitator of the beginner Corrosion Casting workshop and is currently working behind the scenes to develop our intermediate workshop.
Instagram: @plastinationvet
Anthony has been working in the university sector since 2008 and is currently the Senior Technical Officer in Veterinary Anatomy at the University of Adelaide’s School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences as well as being the current secretary of the Australasian Institute of Anatomical Sciences.
Anthony has a broad range of technical experience, including anatomical embalming and dissection, but he specialises in skeletal preparation and articulation. Having had an interest in skeletal articulation since childhood, his extensive knowledge of this field predates his 12 years working within the university.
Anthony has worked on a variety of species, both large and small. He learned his skills on small species like rabbits and cats but his more recent work includes some of nature’s greatest giants, such as a Sperm Whale, Elephant, White Rhinoceros and Hippopotamus!
Anthony joins the RIP team in 2020 to develop and deliver a new range of Skeletal Articulation workshops.
Roshana has been working in the field of medical research for the last six years, following the completion of her Masters of Research. Much of her work involves animal models of disease and this work has inspired in her a great respect for research animals and their contribution to science.
Having always loved taxidermy, Roshana was very eager to learn but was unsure where to turn to acquire the necessary skills. She stumbled across a Rest in Pieces class being held in Sydney and soon found herself travelling to Melbourne regularly to attend more classes. After volunteering to assist at several of the Sydney classes, Roshana joins the team in 2020 as our dedicated Sydney based teacher and assistant.
Josh began his culinary journey as a Cheesemaker in 1999 under the tutelage of his uncle Richard Thomas, regarded as the pioneer of specialty cheese in Australia. This sparked his passion for all things fermentation. From sourdough to charcuterie, he ravenously devoured every piece of information he could on the subject. He now focusses on utilising traditional methods to create hospitable environments for beneficial bacteria to thrive.
Initially Josh came to work with the Rest In Pieces team in 2016 as a caterer for workshops and it quickly became evident that there was a synergy between fermentation and taxidermy, respectfully transforming the death of an animal into an art that lives on.
Since returning to the rolling hills of Rivendell, East Gippsland, in 2017 he has been creating memories instead of just food. His business La Matanza specialises in culinary experiences that celebrate the connection to the harvest and to the sacrifice. Recent collaborations have yielded such experiences as an homage to the forgotten parts of cattle in ‘Thine Divine Bovine’ and saving stale bread to produce the first Sourdough Saison with Blizzard Brewery.
Naturally, we have some rather elaborate things planned for our first collaboration with Josh and La Matanza in 2020, titled ‘Meet your Meat’. Definitely not to be missed!
Instagram: @lamatanza @rivendelleastgippsland
Karen discovered Rest in Pieces whilst emptying her bucket list. She enrolled in a rat class but took to taxidermy like a fish to water and was soon volunteering at every opportunity, soaking up every new skill that came her way.
Karen loves animals and was immediately drawn to the idea of pet preservation. Due to the combination of anatomy, science and art all drawn together with sensitivity, attention to detail and respect.
She joins the team in 2020 as our after care technician and will be in charge of memorialising your beloved pets.
After completing a Graduate Diploma in Fine Arts in Hobart, Melanie was so set on learning taxidermy she nearly flew to the US to find a teacher. Instead, at last minute, she found Rest in Pieces and flew to Melbourne instead. With that first class, her love of the dying arts blossomed along with her passion for preserving the beauty of all lifeforms in perpetuity.
Shortly thereafter Melanie moved to Melbourne and continued taking Rest in Pieces classes, building on her skill set by volunteering. She is now a permanent fixture at Rest in Pieces, joining the team as class assistant and photographer. In 2019, she travelled to Indonesia with Natalie to learn about the Torajan death culture and rituals from which, a project will be developed in 2020.
Robyn has spent her life making things. She’s a trained chef, restauranteur, artist, avid gardener, leadlight window maker and taxidermist.
Her taxidermy journey began 6 years when she saw a fox get hit by a car. Rather than let it go to waste, she managed to skin the fox and teach herself to tan it, transforming it into a luxurious scarf.
This first venture piqued her curiosity and eventually saw her attending her first Rest in Pieces class. She’s since more-or-less completed the whole curriculum, become a regular volunteer and even found a taxidermy mentor of her own, closer to home.
Robyn joins the team to assist any workshops held in the greater Sydney region.
Madison is a trained scientific illustrator who has been working in natural history museum collections for the past four years. She believes illustration is one of the best tools available for clearer science communication but also strongly emphasises the importance of art in a very STEM-focused world. In 2016, she moved from the United States to Brisbane where she was lucky enough to meet Alison Douglas, senior taxidermist at the Queensland Museum and has been learning and practicing taxidermy under her training ever since.
Madison first met Nat and the Rest In Pieces team in early 2019 when they asked her to perform a quick taxidermy demo as part of the RIP presentation, "Past, Present and Future of Taxidermy”, held in Brisbane. Since then Madison has created several illustrations for Rest In Pieces and joins the team in 2020 as the official team Illustrator.
Bea has always been naturally creative and curious. Her early interest in human anatomy led her to train as an operating theatre technician. She also studies design and dabbles in artistic projects.
After discovering Rest in Pieces she immediately booked into a baby chick class. From her first dissection it was clear she had found her niche. It was a place where art and science overlapped. Through lockdowns she researched and practiced. When classes resumed she was able to further feed her new obsession.
Bea started volunteering at RIP before joining the team. She currently works on dioramas both as a hobby and in the studio. Often incorporating native flora to create a beautiful and unified display. Bea also assists with wet preservation, restores historic wet specimens and memoralises beloved pets.
