Chairman's Update
It’s spring time! The daffodils are flowering, the lambs are frolicking, the blossom is out and the birds are nesting!
The Trust is looking forward to a busy season in the Precinct. The Victorian Heritage Celebrations 2019 is a matter of days away culminating in the Network Waitaki Victorian Fete. There are some fantastic events over the week, check out the website www.vhc.co.nz . This event is a major week in the Waitaki District. It brings lots of visitors to the town and gives locals a sense of pride in Oamaru’s heritage.
The Victorian Wardrobe will be having a busy time with outfitting locals and visitors wanting to look their best during the week. Check them out in Harbour Street.
Recently the Trust had an official opening ceremony with Mayor Gary Kircher for the Loan and Mercantile lift project. This event was attended by representatives from the trades involved, Council officers, Councillors, Heritage New Zealand and OWCT Trustees. The Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust would like to thank the following – The Waitaki Heritage Fund, The JW Christie Trust, The Lion Foundation & The Oamaru Licensing Trust, The Otago Community Trust, The Stout Trust, and The AAW Jones Charitable Trust – without the support of these funders this project wouldn’t have got off the ground (literally!). This has been a major project for the Trust.
Sometimes when I need inspiration, I take a walk through the Oamaru Public Gardens where I think of our forefathers who planned and planted these amazing gardens - knowing they would never see the finished product in its entirety but knowing they were planting for future generations to enjoy the beauty and grandeur of the specimen trees, special gardens and pathways.
Keeping this in mind I see our role for the Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust as caretakers of our heritage buildings and places, ensuring that future generations will enjoy, take ownership, and keep this important part of colonial New Zealand history alive and in good care.
The Trust is always grateful for funding through membership, grants, sponsorship, donations and bequests. Check out our website www.oamaruwhitestonecivictrust.org.nz and www.oamaruwhitestonecivictrust.org.nz/bequests .
Cheers Clarkie Graeme Clark – OWCT Chairman