Introduction
This has been a very good year for the Trust. Our finances show income
for the year of $27,938. In the last three years we have raised $89,138
for the purposes of conservation of historic cemeteries. Our administration
expenses are minimal and we still have $39,949 unexpended, including
$25,000 for the Chinese Graves Project in Dunedin’s Southern
Cemetery.
Membership
This year we commenced a drive to gain members to support the work
of the Trust. We were pleased to have received $1,775 in corporate
and individual memberships. This was a real boost to our confidence.
Conservation
Management Plan Northern and Southern Cemeteries
The preparation of Landscape Plans for Northern and Southern began
in October 2005 and should be finalized very soon. These plans will
bring together the “on the ground” recommendations from
the Conservation Management Plan and provide an agreed blueprint for
public consultation and our future action.
Cemetery
Tours
Tours were held as follows during the year:
April 11 2005 Over 60’s
Club Tour of Northern
May 15 2005 Tour of
Southern in association with Otago Settlers’ Museum
October 15 2005 Celtic
Tour of Southern in association with OSM
October 16 2005 Tour
of Northern with Cargills Castle Trust
Standing
up headstones
Another 25 have been stood up, and further work will be undertaken
in the current year.
Chinese
Graves Southern
A working party was held on Saturday 5 November 2005 to clear the
overgrown area of the Chinese section in readiness for conservation
work on this area of some 114 grave sites. Funding for the conservation
of this section has been generously provided by the Chinese Poll Tax
Trust.
Larnach’s
Tomb
Funding has been secured from the McKay Bequest Fund administered
by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, Otago Branch Committee,
to enable us to commission a Conservation Plan and Specification of
work required to stabilize and conserve the fabric of the tomb which
is in a dire state.
Speaking
Engagements
This year we have spoken to the following groups –
Otago
Settlers Association Ten O’clock Club
Andersons Bay Tainui Ladies Probus Club
Dunedin North Probus Club
NZ Monumental Masons Association Conference
Rotary Club of Mosgiel
Otago Southland Chinese Association re Chinese graves conservation
Probus Club of Mosgiel
St Clair Ladies Club
South Dunedin Ladies Probus Club
This
list indicates that we have communicated our aims and objects to well
over 500 persons.
Newsletters
Our Newsletters continue to be well-received and this year we sent
them out in June 2005, November 2005 and January 2006. It is a very
good way of keeping everyone in touch with what is happening in the
world of cemetery conservation.
Stories
in Stone
Our column in each Saturday’s Otago Daily Times continues to
attract favourable comment and wide readership.
Magazine
articles
During the year we had major coverage “Heritage Matters”
magazine.
Vandalism
This has been our worst year for vandalism in Dunedin’s cemeteries
for a long time. First Green Island got hit by graffiti artists, but
police managed to apprehend the culprits - and they apologized! The
next episode was in the Southern Cemetery over Waitangi Day weekend
when some 20 marble headstones were toppled and smashed in a senseless
and frenzied attack. No-one has been apprehended and the reinstatement
cost will be some $15,000.
Christchurch
Heritage Week October 2005
We took this opportunity to make a public presentation of “Do’s
and Don’ts of Cemetery Conservation”. This was to be held
in the Linwood Cemetery but was unfortunately rained out.Addington
Historic Cemetery and Linwood Historic Cemetery
Conservation Plans have been completed for both these cemeteries and
Christchurch City Council and staff are to be complimented on their
pro-active approach to cemetery conservation..
Marlborough
District Council
In August, at the invitation of Marlborough District Council we carried
out a survey of the major cemeteries in the district and provided
a report on their condition and conservation measures needed. We also
took the opportunity to visit some cemeteries in Nelson City in conjunction
with their Cemeteries Officer. There are many lovely historic cemeteries
in Nelson/Marlborough and the local authorities are pro-active in
their conservation.
Central
Otago District Council
Consultations were held over the Clyde Cemetery and what should be
done to ascertain the location of burials from early times.
General
It has been a very busy year with conservation enquiries coming in
regularly from all over New Zealand. I extend my thanks to my trustees
without whom we would not have been able to maintain our present momentum.
David White has resigned as a trustee because of pressure of work
and change of lifestyle. He was one of our foundation trustees and
his help over four years has been invaluable. We were fortunate to
be able to appoint a new trustee in the person of Dr Chris Rudd, Senior
Lecturer in Politics at the University of Otago, and he brings a new
energy and enthusiasm to the Trust.
Thanks
also to Dunedin City Council councillors, and Alan Matchett and staff,
for their support in so many ways.
Historic
cemeteries are important to the spirit, life, economy, and sense of
history of their local community. Investment in them is a way to recognize
contributions made by earlier generations.
Stewart Harvey
Chairman
28 April 2006
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