Heritage Evening Report from the meeting on Tuesday 6th July - by Jo Sutherland
Firstly, we would like to thank everyone for coming along and thank Russell Wallace for facilitating the meeting. It was lovely to have a good representation from each group and hear what everyone's organisation is up to and the ideas they are working towards at the moment.
Highlights and ideas from each group:
Waimate Museum - looking after Waimate’s core treasures and telling the story of Waimate along with keeping records for the local authority and community.
They are planning on getting more stories online in the future and slowly restoring hidden treasures at the museum.
The museum works with all the heritage groups and schools in Waimate.
Edwardian Society - Highlighting the Edwardian heritage in our district and promoting this as an Edwardian architectural heritage town.
Members meet on a monthly basis and often organise mystery bus trips to other heritage destinations all dressed in full Edwardian costume. They work with all the heritage groups in Waimate.
Bushtown - They have created a wonderful interactive exhibition from the 1860’s to 1920 era. They want people to experience the taste, touch, feel and smell of that era when they visit the site.
They work closely with the Edwardian group and museum along with other heritage groups. They have just been awarded the World Championship Axeman event in 2023 which is a great achievement and wonderful for the town of Waimate.
Funding is a big issue as they need a lot of money to reach their goals.
Art Society - They own their own building and are here to foster the Arts in Waimate. They are currently painting the building and plan to open a gallery in the 2 front rooms. They will also encourage other exhibits to come to Waimate.
They are looking for sponsorships and funding to put in a suspended ceiling to make the room warmer to work in. They find it hard to get help to do the work.
They hold an annual art exhibition.
A & P Show Association - has over 1,500 members. The annual show aims to showcase new technology in the field of agriculture and livestock as well as horse events in the main arena. They have 30 active members on the committee.
They are looking at building on the existing horse boxes. The pavilion is a great place to hold events.
Their aim is to attract more events to the showgrounds.
Vintage Car Club - Most of the events they do are to raise money for an organisation. E.g., Cancer Society.
They have 65 members and love that Waimate is known as a car orientated town.
John Dawson has a lot to do with the motor home park in Waimate which was nominated in the top 10 of New Zealand.
Genealogist - Hold the records of local and international family history within our district. Has information on all the street names and history of our town and district. Works with WDC on the memorial records for the old and new Waimate cemetery.
They meet monthly and go on research trips. They are grateful to have their guaranteed rooms in the Isobel Dempsey building located within the Historical society complex. They would like to
Focus more on local Waimate family history.
Extend their open days to locals, schools and businesses.
Learn about more rural farm history.
Develop more collaboration with the Waimate District and the whole community.
They support the Bushtown event.
Waimate High School - Rural high school. Keen to engage with our local community. Feel that they could work with these groups on their local curriculum and include it in the Waimate Community of learning programme. The focus in schools now is to teach New Zealand history and local history. Would love students to be able to talk to these groups.
Summary
Each group talked about how they worked with other groups - some more than others
Next step: Could explore ways on building on this for all the main events in Waimate.
Some groups struggled to fill committee positions
Next step: This could be explored and solutions made to help these groups e.g mentors/use
combined resources eg. printers etc
Funding is always an issue with all the groups:
Next step: We could work out a time table of who is applying for what so all the groups are not
applying for the same funds at the same time and explore different funding avenues.
Signage throughout Waimate was a major issue - the groups would like to see an information panel that is dynamic located centrally telling people what there is to do in Waimate and direction finders to show people where to go to find the museum/art society/bushtown etc
Next step: Waimate2gether is working on this but is happy to work with anyone who is interested in
being a part of the process.
Genealogists mentioned they had information on street names and their history:
Next steps: This could be an idea for the town putting this on street corners so the community can
learn about the history of their street.
All the groups talked about how they would like to develop more collaboration within the Waimate District and the whole community:
Next step: This could be brainstormed further and a plan put in place to develop this idea.
The Waimate High School are keen to engage with our local community and bring all these groups into their community of learning programme. It would be good to form a plan of how this could be achieved - there is a huge amount of knowledge within these groups that would be a great asset to the schools which would enable the teachers to educate the students about our community and local history.
Next Step: Set up a meeting with the principals col group to work out a plan to see how this can be
achieved.
Waimate’s facades are very unique within New Zealand, Waimate is one of 3 towns with this Edwardian facade status - it would be great to get them all painted in Heritage colours.
Next step: Talk to the WDC about their rules in the district plan then hold a meeting with all property
owners down the high street to see how this can be achieved
Advertising what is on in Waimate - in the past the information centre did a What’s on page in the Trader. It was great to have Lara from Waimate District Council at the meeting who highlighted that she can put any Waimate Events on the Explore Waimate website.
Next step: It would be great to have this information more widely spread in our community so all
groups know who to contact at the WDC. It was suggested that the WDC could do a few pages in t
the trader explaining Lara’s role, her contact details and tell the community what they can find on
the Explore Waimate website - this has great information for our community and tells you what’s on
and what you can do in Waimate
We also discussed strengths/weaknesses and opportunities. These are highlighted below
Strengths
Bushtown open day - lots of groups already work together for this event
Edwardian Street fronts
Explore Waimate Website
Regent Theatre
Weaknesses
$? Solution?
Signage - physical and internet
Lack of free Wifi in town
Live webcams in town lack of
What’s on Event calendar in the Waimate trader (monthly)
Opportunities
Umbrella group to coordinate ideas for events throughout the year
Waimate 50 + Art Exhibition
Escape Room
Cultural Heritage Month - most groups would like to build on the events that already happen in Waimate rather than make a whole new event
Waimate2gether would love to hold a follow up meeting in 2 months time to brainstorm some of the ideas that have been highlighted above.
Next meeting: Tuesday 24th August from 7pm - 9pm - venue to be confirmed
