Once again, season’s greetings, as another year turns over. We are Te Whare Taonga o Kororāreka, the house for treasures of Kororāreka – Russell. We care for those taonga that come to us from the wider community of this place that is dear to the hearts and minds of so many people gathered here or scattered far and wide ki ngā hau e whā (to the four winds). It has become a habit of ours to report to our community around this time of year, in an attempt to update you on what we have been doing, and what we plan to do. This year we have a different story for you. Soon, we will need your help in a more direct way than has been usual for us. Bear with me for a momentary digression into the past…

Russell Museum has been fortunate to have benefited from the gift of time, as well as treasures, from its people. Founding curator, Marie King, set up the professional practices that protect and conserve the museum collection. As a lifelong resident of this place and a descendant of some of Te Pē-o-whairangi’s earliest settlers, she was embedded in the community, both in body and in soul. The welfare and longevity of Russell Museum and its community was central to her life, as shown in her two books about Russell – Port in the North and A Most Noble Anchorage. The latter is still for sale, by the way, in the museum shop. She worked part time and opened the museum on request in its earliest days.

Our second curator, Heather Lindauer, was mentored by Marie King and took the museum to another level. She guided the museum through its days as the Captain Cook Memorial Museum, instituted new displays in 1990 and introduced its bicultural name. This move towards practical biculturalism both reflected a nationwide movement in museum practice and one that our museum, and community is still challenged by. It is a challenge I, as current curator, welcome and invite help with. It is one our third curator, Marsha Davis, advanced and defended passionately.

Heather, like Marie King, spent many more hours here than she was ever reimbursed for. Now she is chair of the Trust Board, and volunteers her time on collection work. Her comprehensive local knowledge is invaluable. If Heather can’t answer one of my queries about local history, she will know who to ask. Sadly, the list of people we can turn to for that knowledge shrinks, year by year.

I took over as curator from Marsha in April 2011. Like her, I count among my tupuna, (ancestors) some of this town’s earliest residents, both Māori and Pakeha. As it was to her, curatorship of Russell Museum’s collection and guardianship of its place in, and its importance to the community, is more than a job for me. Here is where our fathers, our grandparents and many generations before them still have a visible presence in our lives. They may have gone but within the walls of this museum their lives, their day to day existence, photographs of the houses they lived in, the dusty streets and grassy paths they walked on in search of wandering cows, live on. That history is here, not only for our locals but for everyone who visits as well.

Russell has long been a tourist destination. Visitors come from all over the world to relax and to refresh themselves from their busy lives. They go swimming and laze on the beaches, they catch fish, sometimes from the end of the wharf, they shop, they wander around the streets. They get married here and they honeymoon here . They visit our historic places, the first pub, the old church and Maiki Hill with Te Whakakotahitanga and its reminders of those other fallen flagpoles. Visitors can work an ancient printing press at Pompallier and at Russell Museum they have real objects from the deep and recent past to see, to touch and to wonder about as they encounter ‘The Story of Russell’.

Unfortunately, that ability is now in danger. Te Whare Taonga o Kororāreka, if it had been a ship, instead of a building, would be perilously close to sinking. The museum employs five part-time staff. It is financed solely from admission fees and shop profits. The Far North District Council gives us a reduction in rates. We offer free admission to locals. The community library space is rent free. Many of our artefacts, including the whaleboat Tutanekai, are displayed in our grounds, free to all who wander past. But we still need to maintain and insure these treasures – the whaleboat, Stephenson’s crane, the cannon, the whale pots. We are a registered charity and do not seek to make a profit. However, we do need to break even to survive. For the past five years we haven’t managed to do that. Fortunately we have some reserves which have kept us going until now. We are now actively seeking to change that situation. In the short term we are implementing some marketing strategies which we have appealed to Russell people for voluntary help with. Long term, the trustees and staff, after lengthy considerations, have concluded that in order to attract more paying visitors we will need to make major changes to our building, grounds and displays.

Should we fence the grounds, as Waitangi National Trust has done? Should we retain our traditional small museum ‘feel’ or expand and modernise our offerings with interactive and digital displays? Is local history what visitors want to see? Or should we move our focus to…children…maritime…natural or Maori history? Should we cut our opening hours or increase them? Rely on volunteers instead of paying staff?

What do you the people of Russell want your museum to be? What will best serve the interests of the town? How important is your museum to you? How can we best continue caring for the treasures and the heritage of our past while becoming once again a financially viable enterprise?

These are all questions museum trustees and staff are grappling with. We don’t want to do this alone – we’d love some input from Russell people. If you, or anyone you know, has either expertise or time that you think might help please come and see us. Anytime.

Nga mihi mahana ki a koutou,

Shelley Arlidge

Curator

This is how it looks from the outside – have you been inside yet? You might imagine, if you are new to Russell that this museum is here as an attraction for visitors to our village. Wrong. It is here for you. Our mission statement is to preserve the history and heritage of Russell/ Kororāreka and environs. We are adding, in 2014, another layer to this : Ngā taonga tuku iho nō ngā tūpuna ki ā tātou tamariki. It is for our children as well.

Our museum opened on Christmas Eve 1956 as the Russell Centennial Museum. Following later renovations, the donation of a Ralph Sewell built Endeavour 1:5 scale model and funding from South British Insurance, we became the Captain Cook Memorial Museum. In 2013, under the umbrella of the Russell Centennial Trust Board, we are Russell Museum – Te Whare Taonga o Kororāreka. We are sited on land which was once part of Rewa’s kainga, donated to the Trust by later owners, the C.F.Baker family. The Trust property incorporates our library; the original library trust contributed financially to the building fund. The rest of the funds were raised by the Kororāreka Centennial Committee and Russell people to be used in… erecting a public building…to mark the centenary of the foundation of the town of Russell… and generally to work for the advancement and progress of the Russell Town District…and the general welfare of The Inhabitants of the District “. We continue to honour that aim by supporting the library and offering free museum admission to “The Inhabitants “. That’s you. Please come and visit us; bring your children and your (paying) visitors. If we don’t recognise you please introduce yourself – we are here for you and we look forward to meeting you. And don’t forget to check out our gift shop as Xmas approaches.

Russell Museum operates as a charitable trust. We receive no council or government funding other than occasional grants. Admission fees and shop profits enable us to employ staff to sustain the museum building and collections. As a charity we do not aim to make a profit and for the last two years we have run at a loss. Accumulated funds have covered this so far. We aim to break even and are hoping for an economic upturn soon. Donations are welcome and are tax deductible.

So what do we do here? In our last financial year we hosted around 18,000 visitors. So far this year we have added almost 300 news clippings and close to 200 objects to our archives and collection. We received grants and donations to help us repair and paint the library ceiling, landscape the Walker Passage and upgrade our computers, collect oral histories and make various purchases: a datalogger to record relative humidity and temperature levels in the display and storage areas; four Pauline and James Yearbury panels – Tawhirimatea, Maraki-hau, Hinemoana & Tangaroa; a new display case. For these gifts we acknowledge and thank Russell Ratepayers and Citizens Association Inc., Lion Foundation, Museum of NZ Te Papa, FNDC amenity funds and a donor who wishes to remain anonymous

Our temporary exhibition space – the Marie King Gallery – was the venue for three different displays in 2013. Three Collectors, over last summer, was a chance for descendants and visitors to view the collections of Stan Adamson, C.F. Baker and Edmund Lane. This was followed by Recent Acquisitions, our chance to show off our new Yearbury panels, Rev Charles Baker’s 1828 Pembroke table and taonga tūturu lodged here by the Kororāreka Marae Society. From now until the end of January is our photograph exhibition, Look Twice, with selected Stephen Western, Ian Hanlon and collection prints available for sale.

Best wishes for the festive season to you all from the team at the museum.

Ngā mihi mahana ki a koutou, Shelley Arlidge (Curator ) Dianne Davey (Administrator) Heather Stone, Lynette Cooper, Barb Elboz (Reception), Clive Arlidge (Kaumatua). Trustees: Heather Lindauer (Chairperson), Ailsa Murray, Barrie Bell, Bernard Woodcock, Eldon Jackson, Libby Magnusson, Rosamund Scoffham, Stephen Western, Terry Greening.

Tena kotou katoa. Russell Museum welcomes the opportunity to report to the community and to wish you Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

MUSEUM PROJECTS

The Board undertook a number of projects aimed at ensuring the future condition of the museum. These were:

The upstairs area, unfinished since 1990 and previously used as St John’s Op Shop, was completed creating a dedicated meeting space, preparation area and a new collections-storage room. Condition assessments, photographing and relocating some objects in the collection is now underway.

A natural ventilation system has been installed in the museum roof to ensure a consistent environment for the newly completed collections-storage room and the main display areas of the museum. It will also provide a cooler environment for visitors.

The security alarm system was upgraded, wiring replaced and three additional cameras were added.

The original 1950 concrete tile Russell Library roof was replaced with Coloursteel and the guttering was replaced. Russell Museum’s roof, dormers and facia were also painted.

As a result of last year’s dry summer a small tank has been installed in the north wall alcove garden to supplement the museum’s water supply.

A large manganese rock from Tikitikoure has been placed in the punga gardens beside the Tamati Waka Nene reserve along with a sign explaining the history and relevance of manganese mining to the Russell community.

Russell Museum’s Oral History Project continues with knowledge and memories of Russell and the outer Bays, its people, places and events, being recorded and preserved for future generations.

A valuation of Russell Museum’s collection was recently completed by Webb’s of Auckland.

MAJOR ACQUISITIONS

A Pauline Yearbury rimu incised panel ‘Papa-tu-a-nuku’ was donated by ex-Kiwi Judith Anderson who purchased the panel from the Yearbury’s some forty years ago.

The Russell Boating Club and Myra Larcombe presented Russell Museum with an oar from the Hinemoa, the sister whaling boat to the Tutanekai on display in the whale boat shelter.

MARIE KING GALLERY

1 February 2010 was a day of Blazing Cannons. Visitors and locals were given the unique opportunity to fire cannons and mortars on Russell’s waterfront in remembrance of the Boyd Bicentennial Celebrations. Later, the cannons were moved into the museum as a temporary display for a month. Blazing Cannons II took place 13 March, this time in celebration of the 165^th Anniversary of the Battle of Kororareka.

Our summer exhibition Pou Taharua : The Flagstaff Exhibition looked at the two histories to our flagstaff through its many surviving pieces. In all, 22 pieces were displayed from the museum’s collection, Te Papa, Auckland, Taupo & Coromandel Museums, Waitangi National Trust & Ngatihine. Hone Heke’s personal taonga (treasures) were loaned by descendant David Rankin. Pou Taharua attracted a great deal of media attention due to the museums prior purchase of a controversial flagstaff piece from Dunbar Sloane Auction House.

The autumn exhibition, An Unsettled History juxtaposed contemporary art works by local and Northland artists with objects from Russell Museum’s collection to generate dialogue on Māori grievances relating He Whakaputanga o te Rangatira o Nu Tireni and articles comprising Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Opening the same time as Te Paparahi o Te Raki (The Northland Inquiry into Ngapuhi sovereignty claims) the exhibition was extended to August earning a visit from Te Paparahi o Te Raki Facilitator Barry Rigby and Treaty Claims Registrar, Tina Mihaere who came to personally deliver a ‘special recognition’ to the museum for holding the exhibition.

Journeys, our winter exhibition revealed the lives of many brave women who went to sea with their whaling husbands in the 1800s. Told through the writings of Joan Druett (Petticoat Whalers) and Louisa Worsfold (A Social History of Russell) this exhibition explored the hardships women faced as well as the whaling industries connection between New England, Martha’s Vineyard and Kororareka/Russell. Joan Druett visited and congratulated Russell Museum on providing a great exhibition and wonderful community facilities.

A Day Like No Other takes us into the new year. This exhibition pays homage to a Russell tradition, the “Tall Ships & Classic Invitation Races, Hangi and Dance” that has grown from a race between friends to an annual event which attracts entries from all over the world. Materials for the exhibition are generously loaned by the Russell Boating Club. A unique video of the 1995 Tall Ships Race by Cliff Whiting allows visitors to share in the events of the day from a unique local perspective.

INITIATIVES

We now have a Facebook page and invite you to link through from our website. Russell Museum will launch a new website next year.

PUBLICATIONS

Unique books available through the Museum Shop are: The Children of Rangi and Papa by Pauline Kahurangi Yearbury, Puawananga – The Adobe Cottage by Charlotte P Larkin, Jacky Nobody by Anne de Roo, The Artist and the Carver by Damien Skinner, Tales of the Angler’s Eldorado – by Zane Grey, and Petticoat Whalers by Joan Druett. Also available is Discovering Historic Russell – a fascinating twelve-minute DVD on Russell’s history.

RECOGNITION AND THANKS

Russell Museum would like to recognize and thank the following community and national organizations for their financial support and assistance in 2010.

New Zealand Lotteries Board toward the completion of upstairs,

Southern Trust toward the museum roof and the ASB Community Trust toward the Library Roof, Rod Haines for the manganese rock, John & Ann Osborne, Perry Baker and the Russell ‘Boys’ for Blazing Cannons I & II, Russell Boating Club for exhibition support, Graham Lochmann, Tony Gilbert, Jeremy Nodder and Larry Taylor. Thanks Pat Noble, our museum volunteer.

ABOUT US

The Triennial General Meeting, Monday 18 October, 2010 generated great interest in the community with over fifty people attending. Re-elected were; Lorraine Young (Chairperson), Heather Lindauer (Vice Chairperson), Rosamund Scoffham and Eldon Jackson. They were joined by new trustees Barrie Bell, Ailsa Murray, Stephen Western and Bernard Woodcock. Terry Greening elected to the FNDC BOI-Whangaroa Community Board is now FNDC Representative with Colleen Bottrell as Library Representative. To outgoing and retiring trustees Jane Hindle, Antony Hanlon, Bob Magnusson, Terry Greening and Florence Annison a heartfelt thanks for your generous support and assistance.

Staff who welcome you daily are: Libby Magnusson, Pat McNicoll, Shelley Arlidge, Tina Barlow, (museum assistants), Dianne Davey (administrator), and Marsha Davis (curator).

Tena kotou katoa. Russell Museum welcomes the opportunity to report to the community and to wish you Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

MUSEUM PROJECTS
Two natural timber seats have been added to the museum grounds.    A  macrocarpa slab on two rounds is now located under the Pohutukawa tree in the Tamati Waka Nene reserve, and railway sleeper seating has been installed parallel to The Strand giving visitors a wonderful view of the harbour.
Russell Museum’s Oral History Project is underway.  Knowledge and memories of Russell and the outer Bays, its people, places and events, are being recorded and preserved for future generations.
The gravel floor in the whaleboat shelter has been replaced with duckboard offering a stable walkway from which visitors may view the whaleboat.
A security camera monitoring system has been added providing further security to objects on display in the museum.

MAJOR ACQUISITIONS
Russell Museum received a second bequest, of Pauline Yearbury’s artwork from her Elam years through to later works, from the late Jim Yearbury. Collectively, the 2008- 2009 bequests mean a significant collection of Pauline Yearbury’s artwork is now held at Russell Museum.
Artefacts from the 1999 archaeological dig, recorded as “Guns and Gods, The History and Archaeology of Rewa’s Pa, Kororareka” by Simon Best, were presented to Russell Museum by the Department of Conservation.
Three sets of historical whaling documents about Kororareka / Russell’s whaling and trading history were acquired this year – a receipt for goods signed May 15, 1877, by Russell general merchant and shipping agent, Samuel Stephenson; a Form of Articles of Agreement between crew and owners of the whaling Bark “Martha”, and, a 1872-1874 journal containing details of goods traded by the “Martha” in Russell, during her voyages to and from the Pacific and Antarctic whaling grounds.
Two pieces, said to be from Russell’s historic flagstaff, were acquired from Dunbar Sloane in August.  One is from the estate of Lord Ranfurly, Governor of New Zealand from 1897-1904. The second is a walking stick made from the 1845 flagstaff with a handle fashioned from grapeshot fired from the ship Hazard.

MARIE KING GALLERY
The summer 2008-2009 exhibition Maori Churches of Northland by Russell’s Laurence Aberhart showed visitors 26 photographs of church interiors that record Christianity’s early influences on Maori in Northland.
Russell’s Julie Todd won 1st prize in the A Moment in History photographic competition.  Her contemporary interpretation of Baker’s historic Four Square store with clock was aptly named Old Timer.
The Autumn exhibition Tokotoko: the talking/walking stick considered the walking stick as both a symbol and an object of beauty. In all, 32 majestic walking sticks lined the gallery walls.  Thanks to locals for their support.
Matariki or Maori New Year saw the live exhibition, Celebrating Piupiu by local weaver, Donna Baker.  The piupiu has recently been completed and presented to Russell Museum.
Winter’s exhibition Temporal Markers: Defining Russell through Maps and Charts, featured historic maps and charts from the 1800s to early 1900s. It explored how our ancestors located themselves in Russell’s landscape in comparison to how we currently locate ourselves.
Spring’s The Art of the Book exhibition featured Russell Museum’s rare books.  It investigated how books played an important part in distributing information, and their influence on customs, social mores, political and religious views of people living Kororareka / Russell from the 1840s to 1940s.
A six week exhibition A Marae for Russell has been installed at the Kororareka Marae building, Haratu, in support of their opening on 11 December, 2009.
Our final 2009 exhibition, Pou Taharua : The Flagstaff Exhibition runs till March 14, 2010. It features what are thought to be 22 surviving Flagstaff pieces and is supported by loans from Te Papa, Auckland, Taupo & Coromandel Museums, Waitangi National Trust, Ngatihine, as well as Hone Heke’s personal taonga (treasures) from descendant David Rankin.  Pou Taharua has attracted a great deal of media attention.

INITIATIVES
Russell Museum now has a blog site.  We are particularly eager for Russell people to join this fun, informal posting space. Check it out at:  http://russellmuseum.ning.com

PUBLICATIONS
Unique books available through the Museum Shop are:  The Children of Rangi and Papa by Pauline Kahurangi Yearbury, Puawananga – The Adobe Cottage by Charlotte P Larkin,  Jacky Nobody by Anne de Roo and The Artist and the Carver by Damien Skinner.

RECOGNITION AND THANKS
Russell Museum would like to recognize and thank Russell community and national organizations for financial support and assistance in 2009.
Thanks to SKYCITY Auckland Community Trust for funding a security camera system. Thanksgiving Foundation and Far North District Council funding have made it possible for the Russell Museum Oral History Project to proceed. The Lion Foundation contributed to the purchase a digital recorder. Financial assistance for general administration expenses was received from the Community Organization Grants. Thank you to the Far North District Council for financial assistance for  the duckboard addition to the whaleboat shelter. We are grateful to the Lotteries Board for funding to complete the upstairs renovation which will allow more storage and utility space.
Thanks to Helen Pick for cleaning the Pauline Yearbury paintings and wood panels; Russell Realty for continuing to sponsor the Heritage Corner in Russell Lights; Jim Cottier, Lindsay Alexander and Max Cummings for taking ‘the lines’ of the whaleboat and samples for testing by Scion; Terry Ewbank for financial assistance allowing testing to be carried out, and, the Department of Conservation for their contributions to the Museum.

ABOUT US
Russell Centennial Trust Board Trustees of the Russell Museum are: Lorraine Young (chair), Jane Hindle (deputy), Terry Greening, Tony Hanlon, Eldon Jackson, Bob Magnusson, Rosamund Scoffham, Colleen Bottrell (library representative), Florence Annison (FNDC representative).  We also welcome our newest trustee, Heather Lindauer.

Staff who welcome you daily are:  Libby Magnusson, Pat McNicoll, Shelley Arlidge, Tina Barlow, (museum assistants), Dianne Davey (administrator), and Marsha Davis (curator).

Russell Museum welcomes the opportunity to report to the community and to wish you Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

MUSEUM PROJECTS

The museum grounds have been recently enhanced. New plants with attractive foliage have been established along York Street and the library entrance. A fresh coat of paint to the museum foyer and inner doors has brightened the entrance

The Endeavour ship wing, while closed to the public in October, underwent a thorough cleaning and is now in ship shape condition.

MAJOR ACQUISITIONS

Russell Museum recently received a significant bequest from Jim Yearbury’s estate in the form of a collection of artwork by Pauline Yearbury. The collection consists of; a wood panel which Jim and Pauline produced together, several of Pauline’s paintings, a lino cut; and the original artwork for her book, The Children of Rangi and Papa. The museum hopes to exhibit Pauline’s artwork after restoration of some items is complete.

Artifacts recovered in the 2000 Blomfield archaeological dig, were presented by the Department of Conservation to the museum in June.

Through private inquiries and the internet site TradeMe, Russell Museum has purchased a four volume facsimile set of early land purchases and claims in Northland and several early postcards of Russell.

MARIE KING GALLERY

Temporary exhibitions held this year again concentrated on local content. Tio Reka gave insight into the history of one Russell’s most popular delicacies, the sweet oyster, while Te Ra Tahutu, highlighted the 11^th of March 1845, as the day in history when Russell burned. A Marae for Russell gave a textual account of Russell’s community struggle to establish a marae and in

September The Blomfield Dig. What’s under the house? featured artifacts recovered during the Blomfield dig in 2000, in relation to the occupation and use of land.

The December 2008 exhibition is significant. Laurence Aberhart’s exquisite photographs, Maori Churches of Northland may be viewed as a collection for the first time in New Zealand. The exhibition opens December 19 at 5.00 pm. All are welcome to attend.

Dust off your cameras and capture the historic houses of Russell to participate in the museums A Moment in History Photography Competition. Entry forms available January from the museum and website: www.russellmuseum.org.nz.

INITIATIVES 

Museum staff digitized a small part of the museum collection. These objects can now be viewed on New Zealand Museum’s new website www.nzmuseums.co.nz. An ongoing project resulting from this initiative is to photograph the entire Russell Museum collection.

SCHOOL VISITS

Russell Museum continues to be a popular education destination with forty one schools visiting the museum this year. Working together with Pompallier, DoC Visitor Centre and R Tucker Thompson, Russell Museum continues to offer an exciting interactive experience for pupils of participating schools.

SIGNS

Russell Museum continues to enhance visitor experience and with this aim signage in Russell has been upgraded as well as being strategically placed on the Paihia wharf.

PUBLICATIONS 

Unique books available through the Museum Shop are: The Children of Rangi and Papa by Pauline Kahurangi Yearbury, Puawananga – The Adobe Cottage by Charlotte P Larkin, Jacky Nobody by Anne de Roo and The Artist and the Carver by Damien Skinner

RECOGNITION AND THANKS 

Russell Museum would like to recognize and thank Russell community and national organizations for financial support and assistance in 2008.

A generous grant from the Russell RSA enabled cleaning to be carried out on the thirty foot high ship wing walls and the Endeavour model, as well as repainting the foyer, doors and planter boxes, to brighten the museum for summer visitors.

Thanks to the Lion Foundation, Russell Museum was able to update computer, software, printing and network capabilities.

Financial assistance for general administration expenses was received from the Community Organization Grants.

The museums Oral History Project recently received a grant from the Community Arts Council to further the aims of the project, which is to collect and transcribe significant oral histories of local people, to identify knowledge about the past for the benefit of the community.

Heartfelt thanks goes to Heather Lindauer, our past curator, who continues to visit the museum and share her expertise in the areas of local knowledge and the museum collection.

The Bentwood chair founding curator Marie King used while writing A Most Noble Anchorage, was recently restored thanks to the generosity of Simone Roussell. Simone is a Friend of the Museum. The museum is a charitable trust with donee status. Funds donated to the museum qualify for a tax credit.

ABOUT US 

Trustees that administer the Russell Museum are: Lorraine Young (chair), Claire Jones (deputy), Terry Greening, Tony Hanlon, Jane Hindle, Eldon Jackson, Bob Magnusson, Rosamund Scoffham, Colleen Bottrell (library representative), Florence Annison (FNDC representative).

Staff who welcome you daily are: Libby Magnusson, Pat McNicoll, Shelley Arlidge, Tina Barlow, (museum assistants), Dianne Davey (administrator), and Marsha Davis (curator).

The Museum publishes an annual newsletter of its activities, acquisitions and special exhibits. This is distributed to local residents and copies are available from the Museum. Our latest newsletter is below.

If you would like to receive an electronic copy, please email us your contact details.

RUSSELL MUSEUM welcomes the opportunity to keep you informed of what has been happening at the museum during 2007.

MARIE KING GALLERY:
Once again we have mounted several short term exhibitions. We hope you had the chance to visit and see them.
From December 06 to February 07 it was Best in the Bay to mark 120 years of service by the family and firm of Fullers – car and passenger ferries, tourist launches and game fishing boats, dolphin encounters and beach tours.  All developed from a small family business initially for maritime freight transport.
From March to May The Story Below – told of the archaeological discoveries below the surface of Russell particularly on the Russell waterfront.  Many of the artefacts found have been deposited at the museum, and also the reports of the digs.
Stephenson / Tepene, was the June to August exhibition – the story of an early bicultural family founded by Samuel Stephenson, merchant of Russell and his wife Hira Moewaka of Waikare.  This was our Matariki exhibition.
September to November,  A Kind of Fir, was the story of Kauri in the Bay of Islands.  This exhibition featured photos and artefacts about our iconic Northland tree and supported the Kauri Festival.
Tall Ships is our summer exhibition from December to February 08.  It will pay tribute to our maritime heritage in the Bay from missionaries, traders and whalers to today’s R Tucker Thompson.

ONGOING PROJECTS:
Our new whaleboat shelter on the Strand frontage has been completed and our unique American whaleboat shifted in on a new support cradle.  New signage has been printed about whaling and has been placed in the shelter.  Preservation of the boat will begin in summer 2008.
The old whaleboat site was cleaned up and planting of native trees and shrubs enhanced the grounds.  It included a punga fence which required an archaeologist on site while excavations were made.  Further plantings, seating and art work will be added over the next few years.
These projects have all been made possible by generous donations of funding and help from ASB Trust, Sir John Logan Campbell Trust and the Thanksgiving Trust for the whaleboat shelter; the Lion Foundation, Russell Landcare and FNDC Amenity Fund for the fence and plantings.

MAJOR ACQUISITIONS:
The museum continues to add books, photos and papers to its archives.  It welcomes any material that adds to our knowledge of Russell and its environs.
A link with Nantucket resulted in a copy of the book Moby Dick for our whaling book collection.
A meeting with Clarice Green allowed us to copy to DVD an 8mm film of a visit to Russell in 1937.

PUBLICATIONS:
Jacky Nobody was reprinted early this year and we were pleased that so many people managed to attend the book launch and purchase a copy of our latest publication The Children of Rangi and Papa by local artist Pauline Kahurangi Yearbury.  This was a very ambitious project for us, it has proved popular and is a limited edition.
The next book to be reprinted is When Boats ruled the Bay by Hazel Cates (nee Fuller).  This book is about her family and events in the Bay until the 1960s.  The museum staff has retyped the text of the original book adding fresh photos and an index.  There are plans for a book launch when it is completed.

WEB SITE:
Much staff time over the winter months was spent on the development of the Russell Museum web site.
One of our trustees worked with the webmaster to set up the site.
Check it out on www.russellmuseum.org.nz

WORKING TOGETHER:
Russell Museum is pleased to be part of a school package with Pompallier, DOC Visitor Centre and R Tucker Thompson to provide visiting school groups with a Russell experience.  This year 14 schools have taken part.

PUBLICITY:
Russell Museum is pleased to share our knowledge with the readers of Russell Lights.  Heritage Corner and Treasure / Taonga have become regular features in this publication.
We also publicise our exhibitions and events by putting out press releases in the local papers.

ABOUT US:
Russell Museum’s aim is to preserve the history and heritage of Russell.  It is self supporting with Trustees and volunteers, as well as paid staff.
Regular visitors to the museum are welcome to become a Friend of the Museum.
Russell Museum has an excellent shop specialising in Northland books.  Have you read A Most Noble Anchorage by Marie King.  This book is still the most comprehensive book on Russell and is available in the shop.  There are also great gift ideas for all ages. We also offer a photocopying, faxing and laminating service.
We are open every day except Christmas day.

The Russell Centennial Trust Board that administers the Russell Museum held their Triennial meeting recently. Trustees re elected for a three year term are: Lorraine Young (chair), Claire Jones (deputy), Tony Hanlon, Jane Hindle, Eldon Jackson, Bob Magnusson, Rosamund Scoffham, Colleen Bottrell (library representative), Florence Annison (FNDC representative), and Terry Greening newly elected.
Mike Church, Harold Williams, John Gibb and Jill Williams retired during the year.  They will be sadly missed as they all had their special skills that added to the Trust Board.
Staff: Heather Lindauer (curator), Dianne Davey (administrator), Pat McNicoll, Libby Magnusson and Shelley Arlidge (museum assistants).

Marie King Gallery
Once again we have mounted several short term exhibitions. We hope you had the opportunity to visit and see these exhibitions.

From Dec 05 to Feb 06 it was Windy Harbour – the story of Whangamumu which told the story of the shore based whaling station operated for 50 years by the Cook family of Russell who had a steam whaler Hananui and also a local boarding house of the same name.

From March to May Not Granny’s Attic told the story of the growth of the museum which celebrated its founding 50 years ago this year. There were images of the small wooden museum room, the arrival of the Endeavour, the 1970 and 1990 additions, and the redesign of the interior.

Harakeke NZ Flax was our Matariki exhibition from June to August telling of an important export product from the Bay and displayed flax weaving.

Through the Lens of a Camera again from Sept to Nov featured a further 200 photos taken by Ian Hanlon of Russell people and places in the 1950s and 60s.

The Dec 06 to Feb 07 exhibition Best of the Bay will mark 120 years service to the tourist industry by Fullers. Car and passenger ferries, tourist launches, game fishing boats, launches, dolphin encounters and beach tours – all developed from a small family business initially for maritime freight transport.

Publications
The museum has republished Old Russell – New Zealand ‘s first capital by Jack Lee, the story of Okiato.

A more ambitious project is a republication of The Children of Rangi and Papa – the Maori story of creation featuring the poems and paintings of the late Russell artist Pauline Kahurangi Yearbury by kind permission of her husband. A book launch is planned for late November.

Celebration
Russell Museum celebrated its 50th birthday with a party and the launching of a presentation of 500 photos from its photo archives set in an easy to use computer programme. Present and past staff, trustees, volunteers and residents gathered to mark this special occasion.

New Project
Funding and consents have been granted for a new shelter for our whaleboat and making a cradle for the boat to be followed by its preservation. Having the whaleboat on our waterfront entrance will provide a great point of interest and acknowledge our important heritage as a port of call for visiting whalers.

A landscape plan has been drawn up for the grounds to add seats, plantings and acknowledge the Tamati Waka Nene Maori Reserve that we care for. This will add interest to our site and be more inviting.

Publicity
Russell Museum is pleased to share our knowledge with the readers of Russell Lights. Heritage Corner and Treasure/Taonga have become regular features in this publication. We also publicise our exhibitions and events by putting out press releases in the local papers.

Acquisitions
The museum continues to add books, photos and papers to its archives. It welcomes any material that adds to our knowledge of Russell and its environs.

Working together
Russell Museum is pleased to be part of a school package with Pompallier, DOC Visitor Centre and R Tucker Thompson Sail Training Trust to provide visiting school groups with a Russell experience.

About us
Russell Museum’s aim is to preserve the history and heritage of Russell. It is self supporting with Trustees and volunteers, as well as paid staff.

Regular visitors to the museum are welcome to become a Friend of the Museum.
We also offer a photocopying, faxing and laminating service.
Russell Museum has an excellent shop specialising in Northland books and great gift ideas for all ages.

We are open every day except Christmas day.

Like to be involved?
In 2007 the Russell Centennial Trust Board will be requesting nominations for Trustees. Have you thought about becoming a Trustee? Please come and talk to us at the Museum if you are interested.

Marie King Gallery
Our gallery space has been valuable for providing an area for changing exhibitions.

Over the summer we featured the work of local photographer Ian Hanlon who recorded Russell people and places in the 1950s and 60s. Through the lens of a Camera attracted a lot of older locals who enjoyed revisiting memories and also interested more recent residents.

From March to May the museum mounted a display about the Battle of Kororareka and the War in the North 1845-6 called Te Ra Tahutahu / the Burning Day. This was to support the commemoration and wananga hosted by the Kororareka Marae Society to mark 160 years since the felling of our flagstaff on Maiki Hill in 1845.

The museum invited Penguin Publishers to launch a new book about the town at the museum. Hellhole of the Pacific by Richard Wolfe told of our early colourful history as Kororareka, a port of call for visiting whalers.

From June to August as a Matariki exhibition we featured the work of local artist Pauline Kahurangi Yearbury, who produced wood panels of Maori stories and legends designed by her and incised and coloured by her husband Jim. The original art work for her book The Children of Rangi and Papa, the Maori story of creation, was on display together with wood panels, many on loan from family and friends.

From September to November, the exhibition Heritage at heart pays tribute to the town’s historic buildings and sites. There are three of national importance and ten significant locally. The New Zealand Historic Places Trust who helps protect such buildings is 50 years old this year.

The final exhibition for the year, from December to February will be Windy Harbour – the story of Whangamumu. This shore based whaling station operated for 50 years and was run by a local family, the Cooks, who had a steam whaler Hananui and also a local boarding house of the same name.

New Project
The Trustees have spent some time working through the process of gaining consent for a new whaleboat shelter to be built on the Strand frontage. The whaleboat, originally American, is over one hundred years old and will require preservation, starting with a new cradle.

When this project has been completed, the museum grounds will be landscaped providing a more attractive setting.

Publicity
The museum is pleased to be part of the new Russell Business Association website and also with the Tai Tokerau Maori and Cultural Tourism Assoc. We are also advertised on the new National Maritime Heritage trail brochure. We are planning a website of our own.

Acquisitions
The museum was pleased to be given part of our flagstaff carved into a tekoteko, and the old bike from the butcher’s shop.

By checking Trade Me regularly we have been able to purchase views of Russell on old postcards and also books for our museum library.