I have pleasure in presenting my report on the Society’s activities for the year ending 31 March, 2003.

GENERAL MEETING SPEAKERS

Speakers and topics at our quarterly meetings for the past year were:

Jun 2002      Stephen Russell - "The Establishment of the New Zealand Film Archive"

Sep 2002    Joan McCracken of Turnbull Library Pictures - "Portraits at the National Library"

Dec 2002    Ms Susan Maclean - "The Life & Church Architecture of Frederick de Jersey Clere"

Mar 2003     Dr Arvind Zodgekar - "The Changing Face of New Zealanders"

I would like to thank all the speakers for so generously giving of their time and expertise to come and talk to us. We try to have a range of interesting topics and speakers throughout the year and hope we have succeeded.

Janet Campbell from Collection Development, Wellington City Libraries visited our collection in January and was extremely complimentary and positive about the work done by committee members, Jan Heynes and Ruth Graham. A third filing cabinet has recently been installed which will ease some of the space problems. We look forward to continuing dialogue with personnel at the library to ensure that the space allocated to the Society in the new library will be maximised so we can meet the needs of the Society and also the wider community. In the meantime a sign will be erected to make our collection more visible to the general public.

Following my talk to the Rotary Club of Karori in April the Club has offered to assist the Society with this project which was deferred last year. The Society will be responsible for choosing the photographs and writing the captions and Rotary will be responsible for selling the advertising and marketing. We aim to have the calendar available in September. Local schools contacted are supportive and will help with the selling: any profits will be shared.

COMMITTEE CHANGES

When Sarah Clayton-Bray moved to Otaki in December last year Frances Sutton agreed to become acting treasurer. We are hoping someone will come forward to replace Frances in this role.

Beryl Hughes is not seeking re-election. She has been a valuable member of the committee since 1996 and has been particularly interested in promoting the calendar. Inka Humphris is not seeking re-election following the birth of Nikolas Rowan. Husband Adrian is taking ‘leave of absence’ and hopes to return to full-time committee work in the future. Sincere thanks to Beryl, Inka and Adrian for their work as committee members. They will of course all remain members of the Society.

FINANCE

Under the capable guidance of Frances Sutton the accounts have been computerised and are user friendly. Thanks to Frances for her work in this role. The 2002/2003 Financial report is attached.

The Society supported the changes to the Wellington City Council District Plan protecting the inside and outside of the Chapel. This change was approved by the Council, but an appeal has been lodged by the Futuna Trust.

I led a group from the Historic Places Trust on part of the Trail (from the Sanctuary to the Library) in November 2002, and again in March 2003 as part of the Wellington City Council’s Stepping Out project. Deirdre Wogan, also lead a group around the Penguin graves as part of the Stepping Out programme. The Council has also produced a self-guided tour of the graves. There is an opportunity for the Society to guide these and other walks during Conservation Week in August.

The Society is about to start researching material for a general interest historic walk in the Cemetery which will be launched during the Karori Festival in September.

Before his death the late Ian Crabtree worked with the Society and the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary to enable the public to have access to the Morning Star goldmine and his bequest to the Sanctuary ensured the work was carried out. The Ian Crabtree track was opened to the public on Labour Weekend 2002, with an official opening organised by the Sanctuary in December when his family and close friends held a dedication service and exploration of the mine.

ORAL HISTORY

The Society was unsuccessful in obtaining funding from the Ministry of Culture and Heritage to hold a workshop and purchase equipment. However in October Ann Beaglehole gave an introductory workshop to interested members and we made a list of prospective interviewees.

Since then we have received a donation of $2,200 from the Stout Trust. Before proceeding further we will discuss equipment and training with the National Librarian, Margaret Calder.

Our current membership numbers 133. We have a number of out-of-town members, including one living in London. I would suggest that those early members of the Society who have moved out of the district consider rejoining the Society. As always we welcome new members.

OUTINGS

About 20 members visited the TV Archives in January 2003 and were shown around some of the facilities as well as viewing historic archival film footage; including some shots of Karori. In April a group visited St Patrick’s and St Mathias churches in Makara and local residents spoke about their histories. We were also shown the old Robinson cottage which a group of enthusiasts plan to restore. The afternoon ended with a walk out to the gun emplacements. On both occasions the groups travelled by vintage bus.

Unfortunately the Society will not be publishing the book about Terawhiti by Catherine Morrison. After much thought the author reluctantly withdrew her offer. However, a group who believed the book had merit and should be published agreed to finance the project. The publisher is Arty Bees Books Ltd and I have to declare an interest as Arty Bees Books is owned by my husband and me. It will be launched in Wellington on Friday 18th July in the Council Chambers and in Makara on 19 July. Members will have the opportunity to purchase at a special pre-publication price.

The workshop on ‘How to carry out research’ conducted by Jim Brodie in April 2002 will result in some biographies relating to inscriptions from St Mary’s churchyard, appearing in the forthcoming edition of The Stockade. Our thanks to Jim for his editorship of our magazine.

Work is continuing on producing a booklet on Oteronga Bay 1500-2000.

Last year there was a suggestion that the incoming committee should consider writing a History of Karori 1840-2000. However no action was taken, partly because we thought we might be publishing Terawhiti. This year, I would go further and suggest to the incoming committee that a working party be established to start planning such a book. To accomplish such a task will of course require a high degree of enthusiasm, drive and commitment over a number of years to see such a major project through to fruition.

The Society plans to participate in the 2003 Karori Festival.

I spoke to the Marsden Probus Club in June last year and to the Karori Rotary Club in April outlining the work of our Society. These talks were well received.

Our site consists of approximately 24 pages and contains information about the Society, its events, and selected articles from The Stockade. It is regularly updated and improved by Frances Sutton. It is hard to quantify the value of such technology but we do get a number of inquiries and it is another way we can promote our Society and the work it does. The website and email host has been changed to the free Wellington Community Network. Our thanks to Frances for the work she does.

We regret to record the deaths of the following members of the Society:

Bob Burnett                                        Dorothy Szakats

THANKS

I am grateful to all members of the committee who so willingly give of their time and talents in furthering the work of the Society and in supporting me as President.

Judith Burch

President                                                                                                                                                                      3 June 2003

Click here to go to Financial report