Stage 3 of our Renovations
The Marie King gallery has been lined and painted and new spot lighting installed. Partitions have created a corner for viewing the Historic Russell video and for research (computers still to be purchased and data entry to be on going over the next few years). The main part of the gallery will be a flexible space for short term displays. Two new display cases and folding screens have been purchased. Carpentry work was done by Graham Lochmann and electrical work by Tony Gilbert and Trustee John Gibb. The Trustees are grateful for funding assistance from the Kawakawa Community Board and Lottery Heritage.

New Attraction! Changing Exhibitions
The gallery has hosted two short term exhibitions during the year.

From April to July Te Hokinga mai: the journey home, a collection of 80 black and white photos by Karel Lorier that recorded the Hikoi that brought the remains of Bishop Pompallier from Paris and the pilgrimage to sites associated with Catholic missions throughout New Zealand.

From September into summer Through the lens of a camera: Russell in the 1950s and 60s, a selection of 180 photos by Ian Hanlon who recorded not only anglers with their gamefish on Russell wharf but also weddings, portraits and places when Russell was a smaller town with unsealed roads and seasonal tourism. The exhibition is supported by contemporary items and clippings.

Promotion
The museum has its own attractive page on the Tai Tokerau Maori and Cultural tourism website, and will soon be part of the National Maritime Trails site.

Regular press releases have been sent out this year and the trustees are grateful to Russell Realty for space to offer historic Russell photos and captions on their page in Russell Lights.

Recognition
The Kawakawa Community Board presented the museum with a certificate of appreciation In recognition of your services to protect the heritage of Russell. This award is normally given to individuals, the museum being the first community organization so honoured.

Latest Publication
This year the museum published a reprint of Puawananga -the Adobe Cottage by Charlotte Preston Larkin, the story of a remarkable middle-aged woman who struggled to build a clay brick cottage from the 1940s at Long Beach . Extra photos from Charlotte’s grand-daughter and line drawings by Joan Grehan make this a very attractive local history.

Regional Participation
Northland Museums meet together twice a year to share and learn from each other. In October representatives from 18 museums came to Russell and we received many compliments on the upgraded displays in the museum.

Triennial Election
The museum is managed by trustees elected three yearly on behalf of the Russell community. At a meeting in September the following were re-elected: John Gibb, Antony Hanlon, Lorraine Hill, Eldon Jackson, Claire Jones, Harold Williams and Jill Williams. The Library representative is Colleen Bottrell, Kaumatua Clive Arlidge, and an Eastern Community Board representative to be appointed. Lorraine Hill is the Chairperson and Claire Jones Vice Chairperson.

Staff: Dianne Davey (administrator), Heather Lindauer (curator), weekend staff Pat McNicoll and Dale Salmon.

Volunteers: Joan Nicholls, Dayle Howard, Dot Bowdler.

Looking Ahead
The museum is working towards a rehousing of its historic whaleboat and landscaping of its grounds. It is also involved in the Active Northland project to provide a higher image for heritage sites in Northland, including Russell.

About us
The museum’s aim is to preserve the history and heritage of Russell. It continues to collect photos, books, clippings and items that reflect our history. It is self supporting with Trustees and volunteers as well as paid staff. Regular visitors to the museum can apply to become a Friend of the Museum. We also offer a photocopying, faxing and laminating service.

Looking for Xmas Gifts?
The museum has an excellent gift shop specialising in Northland books and souvenirs.

Open every day except Christmas day.

Thank you for your support over the past year – have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year.

New Display Layout
The museum was closed for 6 weeks in August/September so that Stage Two of the museum redevelopment could take place. This involved relining and painting walls, new carpeting throughout the building, new lighting, display cases, labels and text panels. The new display of artefacts portrays our history since the arrival of European explorers, whalers and settlers with a strong emphasis on our maritime history.

The Trustees are grateful for funding from the ASB Community Trust and Russell RSA, and the work of Richard Wolfe museum design consultant, Graham Lochmann (carpentry) and Bruce Howell (painter). Tony Gilbert and trustee John Gibb have improved lighting and trustee Antony Hanlon has cleaned the Endeavour model washing sails, renewing ropes and removing dirt and grime.

The museum has a fresh new look and we hope you will visit.

Next Stage
The Trustees are now planning Stage 3 to be undertaken winter 2004. This involves a renovation of the Marie King Gallery to provide space for temporary displays, space for the video presentation, and a general research area involving computers. This last aspect will be an ongoing project to make accessible photos and other material from our archives.

Planning work is still continuing on a new whaleboat shelter in our grounds, closer to the waterfront.

Treasures For The Museum
The museum received historic Russell photos from Robert Florance and Poppy Reid. It has purchased or been given Northland books to add to the Museum research library.

New Russell Books
Public demand required us to print a further 100 copies of “Of Captains, Colonists and Convicts” by Des Price, which tells the early history of the Cook and Williams family in Russell.

We have approval from the family of the late Charlotte Larkin to reprint her booklet “Puawananga – the Adobe Cottage” that tells her story of building her cottage at Long Beach from bricks made with clay and sand found on site. The cottage with its unusual windows still attracts visitors today, as a tribute to a woman who realised a dream.

The Museum will reprint the booklet with additional photos of Charlotte supplied by her grand-daughter Pat.

Great Shopping
The Museum shop has been redesigned with new display shelving. It still specialises in Northland books and souvenirs. Income from the shop helps to provide extra funds for Museum running costs. The shop has an interesting range of gift ideas.

About Us
The Museum Mission Statement is to preserve the history and heritage of Russell/Kororareka and its environs. It has a library and archives, as well as its collection on computer. It continues to record oral history. It is a member of Northland Museums Association, Tai Tokerau Maori and Cultural Tourism Association and the Russell Business Association.

Trustees: Lorraine Hill (chair), Claire Jones (deputy), Brian Baker, John Gibb, Eldon Jackson, Andrew Riddell, Jill Williams, Harold Williams. Library representative: Colleen Bottrell, Kawakawa Community Board Representative Maxine Shortland, and Kaumatua Clive Arlidge.

Staff: Heather Lindauer (curator), Dianne Davey (administrator), Pat McNicoll, Dale Salmon, Helen Ough Dealy (museum assistants). Volunteers: Joan Nicholls, Dot Bowdler, and Penny Beard.

New Display Layout
After months of planning and sourcing funding the museum was closed for three weeks in August to allow the redevelopment of part of the display area – this involved a new colour scheme and lighting, new display cases and text panels, all designed to enhance the setting for our Maori taonga. It also involved disposing of old display cases and checking and packing of artefacts in storage. The shop remained open during this period for a steady stream of visitors. The Trustees are grateful for funding from the ASB Community Trust ($40,000) and the work of Richard Wolfe Museum design consultant, Graham Lochmann, (carpentry) and Bruce Howell (painting).

A second grant from Sky City Community Trust of $10,500 allowed the museum entrance to be upgraded with fresh signage, paint, and the tiling completed by Chris Cowan.

The Trustees are now planning Stage 2, to be undertaken winter 2003. This involves a redesign of the second half of the main room to tell our history from the time of European contact. The ship wing will be upgraded to portray our maritime history, and the Endeavour model will be springcleaned and enhanced. Richard Wolfe will again be the museum design consultant.

The Trustees have commissioned Christine Hall to provide a landscape design for the grounds to include planting of native trees and shrubs, seating and a new shelter for the whaleboat. It is hoped that this work will be undertaken winter 2003, subject to a funding application.

Treasures For The Museum
The major acquisition this year has been the William (Bill) Thomson collection of books and papers. Bill was a noted Northland historian particularly interested in Ruapekapeka, the Williams ruins in Paihia, and Te Wahapu. He was a long-time committee member of the Regional committee of the NZHPT. Other donations include the Russell Review photo collection from Eva Brown, copies of letters of Samuel & Martha Ford (New Zealand’s first surgeon), photos and memories of Russell 1942 by ex-servicemen.

Books
The museum has arranged with the author to reprint the booklet “Of Captains, Colonists and Convicts” by Des Price which tells of the early history of the Cook and Williams family in Russell.

Another publication is “Monde en transformation” which records the impressions of Dumont d’Urville, the French explorer, from three visits to the Bay of Islands between 1827 –1840.

It is hoped to have both available for the summer season.

Great Shopping
The museum shop specialises in Northland books and souvenirs, providing extra income for museum running costs. Of particular interest are a range of facsimiles and reprints of early New Zealand titles, all long out of print.

The shop has an interesting range of gifts for overseas Christmas postings.

About Us
The museum mission statement is to preserve the history and heritage of Russell/Kororareka and environs.

The museum has continued to add books, photos and papers to its archives. The entry of data in the computer on the museum collection has continued, as has the recording of oral histories. Seminars on marketing and effective brochure writing were attended by staff.

Visitor numbers to the museum have been increasing, including school groups and cruise ship passengers.

Trustees: Lorraine Hill (chair), Claire Jones (deputy), Brian Baker, John Gibb, Eldon Jackson, Gill Jones, Jill Williams. Library Rep: Colleen Bottrell, Community Board Rep: Maxine Shortland, Kaumatua: Clive Arlidge.

Staff: Heather Lindauer (curator), Dianne Davey (sec/treas), Pat McNicoll, Dayle Howard, Dale Salmon, Helen Ough Dealy (Museum Assistants). Volunteers: Joan Nicholls, Dot Bowdler, Jenny Craig, Penny Beard, and Elin Jager.

Redevelopment
New signage is in place to direct visitors to the museum – on the Paihia wharf, the passenger ferry and at both museum frontages. Graphic designer Cameron Gibb’s logo, colours and images have been used. The trustees are grateful for his generous voluntary input, and for financial help from Pub Charities.

The flagpole flies a new museum flag designed, also, by Cameron Gibb. He has been responsible for a fresh layout for the museum brochure, which is sent to information centres and tourist outlets, as well as the leaflet given to museum visitors, available in English, Maori, German, French and Japanese.

The Strand frontage has been enhanced by a colourful mural by local artist Helen Pick, which focuses on the sea with waka, whaler and gamefish launch against a Russell/ Kororareka backdrop. Clive Arlidge’s carved pou (posts) look out to sea welcoming visitors both to our museum and our community.

After a period of trialing and testing, a new security system for the museum has been installed, again with generous financial support from Pub Charities.

The Museum Trustees have engaged the services of Richard Wolfe, a museum design consultant, previously at the Auckland Museum , to redesign the interior of the museum.

Richard was part of the design team that put together the successful Kiwiana display and book. He has outlined an initial design for the main room. Stage one is to define and enhance the shop (have you been in to see it?), stage two is to redesign and extend the Maori display, which will happen this coming winter.

New Publication
The reprinting of the Museum’s Russell Heritage Trail booklet is selling well. School groups and visitors alike find the booklet a useful mini history of the town. The trail has also been upgraded with fresh signage.

The museum is working on a second booklet to complement last year’s release of Cook in the Bay. This one is to be called A changing World and tells of three visits to the Bay of Islands by the French explorer Dumont d’Urville in 1824, 1826 and 1840.

Shop
The museum shop specialising in Northland books and souvenirs is providing much needed income to cover running costs. It has imported copies of Zane Grey’s Angler’s Eldorado, which has recently been reprinted in America . The book has all the line drawings and photographs from the original edition. The shop has an interesting range of gifts for overseas Christmas postings.

Ongoing
The museum has continued to add books, photos and papers to its archives. Major acquisitions include an updated Clendon family tree, a replica 58th regiment belt plate, a Russell Regatta Minute book and a collection of photos of Russell from the Florance family (who subdivided Matauwhi Bay in the 1920s).

The entry of data in the computer on the museum collection has continued, as has the recording of oral histories. A workshop on Iwi Customary Concepts (whanau, hapu, taonga, kaitiaki, tapu, noa) was attended on Otiria marae.

Visitor numbers to the museum have increased, including school groups and cruise ship passengers.

General
The museum mission statement is to preserve the history and heritage of Russell/Kororareka and environs.

Trustees: Lorraine Hill (chair), Claire Jones (deputy), Brian Baker, John Gibb, Eldon Jackson, Gill Jones, Jill Williams. Carol Petersen (library rep) and Community Board rep. Kaumatua: Clive Arlidge.

Staff: Heather Lindauer (curator), Dianne Davey (sec/treas). Helen Ough Dealy and Pat McNicoll (weekend staff). Volunteers: Dayle Howard, Novi Browning, and Joan Nicholls.

 

Changes
Ongoing discussions are still taking place on interior design for the museum. New lighting has been installed in the main gallery. The Trustees are grateful to EEC Lighting Auckland for their generous contribution of materials for the lighting upgrade. Upgraded signage and murals are being prepared for both York St and The Strand entrances. Graphic designer Cameron Gibb has offered his expertise in preparing an image for the museum.

Inside a security system has been installed and the foyer repainted.

Shop
The larger shop and increase in variety of merchandise has proved popular. This additional income has helped with the running costs of the museum. With overseas postings for Christmas imminent, our shop provides a range of interesting gift suggestions.

Changing Displays
Four temporary exhibitions were mounted in the entry area this year: Russell Review Photography Competition (Dec – Feb), Cook at the Bay (March – May), New at the Museum and Four Interesting Places on the Heritage Trail (June – Aug), and Russell Regatta (Sept – Nov).

Publications
A small booklet Cook in the Bay telling of Captain James Cook and the Endeavour’s visit to the Bay of Islands in 1769 was launched in March. Illustrations are by Christine Hall. The museum was also successful in having C ome Back Ginger, a children’s tale set in Kororareka 1845 republished by Reed. The museum is presently working on a reprint of its popular Russell Heritage Trail, originally printed in 1992 and which has sold 20,000 copies.

Acquisitions
The museum has continued to add books, photos and papers to its archives. Major acquisitions include: two videos with historic footage by Zane Grey, the Greta Henry Collection of Russell water colours, a traditional Maori rain cape, and an index for Russell Review 1977-99 prepared by Auckland Archivist Suzanne Hamilton.

Computer Records
Over the last five years information on the museum collection has been entered into Vernon Systems. There are now more than 14,000 entries. This includes artefacts, books, photos, newspaper clippings etc. There is an excellent retrieval system to enable topics to be more readily researched.

Marketing
A Museum Trustee attended the Northland Museums Association Marketing Seminar. This led to the preparation of a questionnaire for visitors to find out more information about them to help with future planning. Russell Museum is also part of the Northland Museums Association and Te Papa websites.

Purpose
The Russell Museum’s Mission Statement is to preserve the history and heritage of Russell/Kororareka and environs. A Board of Trustees elected three yearly from the community manages it. The Annual General Meeting will be held on 19 Feb 2001 at the Museum and welcomes anyone from the community who would like to attend.

Present Trustees are: Clive Arlidge, chairman, Brian Baker, Lorraine Hill, Gill Jones, Claire Jones, Eldon Jackson, John Gibb, Andrew Riddell. Diane Smith (Kawakawa Community Board), Joan Hill (Russell Library),

Staff: Heather Lindauer (curator), Dianne Davey (secretary/treasurer), Helen Ough Dealy, Pat McNicoll. (Museum assistants). Volunteers: Dayle Howard and Novi Browning.

The museum offers a photocopying, faxing and laminating service and the gift shop specialises in a range of souvenirs and Northland books.

Support these services and bring your visitors to the Museum and enjoy our video of Russell’s history. Hours: 10 am – 4 pm (5pm in Jan), Entry: $3 adults, 50c children.

 

Plans For The Museum
The Trustees have spent much time during the year discussing the proposed remodelling of the Museum. Waipu architect Kerry Francis drew up plans to present to a Public Meeting.

Public Meetings were held on July 25th and October 2nd, at which several issues were raised. There was not a large public attendance at either meeting, so the Trustees have decided to mount a display in a vacant shop in York Street (opposite the Museum). This will give the history and development of the Museum since its opening in 1956, outline the proposal and provide a chance for Public comment.

A scale model of the proposal will also be on view, with Trustees present to answer queries. All are invited to give the Trustees more feedback. Issues that are of particular concern are the purpose of the museum, types of displays, siting of the museum and the library.

Below is a flow pattern that is proposed to tell the story of our town:

Entrance/shop/ office/archives/changing display
Maori setting/explorers & early visitors
Kororareka the whaling port
Russell – gamefishing , tourism, trade, living community.
Storage area

Come and view our display, Saturday 5th to Saturday 12th December, York Street, 10am – 3pm
Russell Museum – Future directions.

Survey
A visitor survey was undertaken during the summer months to find out how people reached our Museum. More than two thirds came on foot, and mostly as day visitors on the passenger ferries, approaching the Museum from The Strand.

New Trail
Over the winter months, the Museum staff have been researching and writing a Christ Church Cemetary Trail, which will be launched this summer. This will highlight some of the stories behind the historic graves, for the many visitors who enjoy reading the old headstones.

Renovation
The one-fifth scale model of the Endeavour has been cleaned, its masts and rigging checked by Trustees Bernie Chantler and Vin Hill, and some young assistants.

Logo
A logo, for use by the Museum, is being developed. It will feature our penguin/korora holding a taiaha and whaling harpoon, and will be used to advertise the Museum and outreach projects.

New Acquisitions
The Museum continues to add books to its library of local history which is popular with researchers.
Christ Church committee has deposited, on Long Term Loan, a handwritten description of the Tapestry Cushions in the old church.

Meetings
Staff and Trustees have attended a meeting on bi-culturism in Museums, and a Northland Museum Day at Dargaville. Russell Museum is now on a Museum Internet site sponsored by Te Papa.

Displays
A changing display in the entrance to the Museum has featured “Winter Pastimes” and “There’s Something fishy about Russell”. A display was mounted for the 20th anniversary of the Russell Craft Show.

Regular Services
The Museum continues to offer a quick, convenient and economical photocopying service, as well as laminating and faxing. Word processing can be arranged.

Our shop specialises in Northland books and our own Russell historic video, Heritage Trail brochures and the mini history book “Russell More Than a Place”.

Trustees and staff
Chair: Florence Annison, Deputy: Vin Hill, Trustees: Reg Mogford, Gill Jones, Murphy Shortland, Lorraine Hill, Roger Gudgeon, Brian Baker, Bernie Chantler (until June), and Joan Hill (from July) library representatives.

Curator: Heather Lindauer, Secretary/Treasurer: Dianne Davey, Weekend staff: Helen Ough Dealy, Pat McNicoll.

Annual General Meeting
The Trustees are elected three-yearly. The next AGM will be in February 1999. The Museum needs committed trustees with a love of Russell and its history, as well as marketing and business skills to lead the Trust through the next period of exciting change and possibilities.

Note for the Diary – Russell Centennial Trust Board Triennial elections and AGM 15 Feb 1999.

1997 has been a year of exciting developments at Russell Museum. A new book on Russell’s history has been written and published. Possible redevelopments of the museum building have been discussed and an enhanced secretarial service offered to locals, clubs and societies.

Thank you to everyone who has visited the museum or recommended that their visitors come. Without your support, Russell Museum, your museum, administered by the Russell Centennial Trust on your behalf, could not survive. We look forward to seeing you at the museum over the next year.

What’s New?

New Frontage
For some time, the Trust Board has been considering improving the museum building to attract more visitors, most of whom approach the town from the sea. A floor plan has been drawn up which enlarges the exhibition space, and moves the museum’s entrance to The Strand. If adopted, the library would gain a frontage on York Street, making it easier for Russellites to use their facilities, whilst the Op shop would stay where it is.

New Book
Russell Museum has produced a new book on the history of the town. This brief, but comprehensive, look at the events, people and places that make Russell what it is today is an ideal Christmas present.

New Equipment
With the help of a Lottery grant, the museum’s computer has been upgraded and a new printer and scanner bought.

New Skills
Staff are continuing to build up the database of the museum’s archives and artefacts as well as transcribing oral history tapes. Staff have also attended seminars on marketing and copyright.

The Shop
The museum shop has a wide range of books on Northland’s history, as well as Discover Russell video – a unique look at the town’s history. Other gifts suitable for Christmas presents are locally-carved bone pendants, wooden bowls, and kauri gum.

Secretarial Services
The museum offers a quick, convenient, economical and centrally located secretarial service including: copying, laminating, faxing and word-processing. Council agendas, minutes and the district scheme are kept at the museum for anyone to read.

Community Outreach Programmes
Signs indicating the interesting and historic walkways of Old Russell are being erected around the town. The Lemon Tree Track (complete with the new lemon tree planted this year by the museum), the Zigzag, Hazard Street Track, Brodie Passage and Flowerday Passage are some of the walkways that will be signposted this year. The 1997-1998 Russell Review has detailed descriptions by Heather Lindauer about the background to each of these walkways.

Heritage Trails
The museum’s Russell and Maritime Heritage Trails continue to be popular with visitors to the area. Over the past few years a guide has been employed over the peak summer period to walk the central trail around the village. The comments tourists make emphasize the act that this a unique and valuable way of highlighting Russell’s history. When not out on tour, the guide helps out with the day-to-day running of the museum. Anybody who fits the Department of Employment’s Taskforce Green criteria may be eligible to apply for this summer’s position. Call Dianne Davey at the museum for details.

Visitors
With the introduction of the four term school year, visitor patterns have changed. Visitors of note included: Prime Minister and Mrs Bolger who visited us in January. Jim Bolger’s distant ancestor was harbour master in Russell in the 1860s and was buried in Christ Church’s graveyard; leading New Zealand novelist C.K. Stead. Two Interhostel groups and twenty school groups also visited during the year.

Trustees and Staff
Chair of the Trust: Florence Annison, Trustees: Vin Hill, Reg Mogford, Brian Baker, Gill Jones, Murphy Shortland, Lorraine Hill, Roger Gudgeon, Bernie Chantler, (library appointment)

Curator: Heather Lindauer, Secretary/Treasurer: Dianne Davey. Weekend staff: Helen Ough Dealy, Pat McNicoll

Annual General Meeting
This will be held on Monday 15 December at 1pm in the Town Hall Committee room. Trustees are elected to the Board on a three-yearly basis. The next election will be in December 1998.