Waiheke Island Historical Society Newsmail
September 2008

Greetings to all lovers of Waiheke history!

We'd like to let you know of some upcoming events and opportunities for you to get involved with your society.

Open Day, Sunday 28th September
In conjunction with this year's Auckland Heritage Festival, the Waiheke Museum will hold an Open Day next Sunday, the 28th.  We shall have many things to celebrate:

• Opening of Goodwin Cottage to the public, with brand-new displays

• Opening of the Waiheke detention cell -- come be a criminal!

• Phase 1 of the Taonga Heritage Garden project

• Burial of the time capsule

• 1959 Porche Carrera

• Classic engines on display

• A qualified blacksmith at work

• Weaving demonstration

• ... and lots more

Come see all that's new at the Museum!  Gates open at noon; entry by koha.  Refreshments will be available.

Jazz Festival, Labour Weekend
The Waiheke Museum is honoured to be a part of Briar Ross's jazz festival to be held over Labour Weekend.  The Museum grounds will rock to the music on Saturday and Sunday, 25th and 26th October.  Mark your calendars, and keep an eye on our website (www.waihekemuseum.org.nz) as details are confirmed.

We need an archivist
Do you love mucking about in old papers and photographs?  Are you a good organiser?  Then we need your skills!  Kit Nelson, our archivist for these past many years, is retiring.  If you are interested in filling Kit's able shoes, please speak to any committee member, or E-mail us at info@waihekemuseum.org.nz.

Volunteers sought
As with all volunteer organisations, the Historical Society is always looking to get its members involved.  Would you like to join a great bunch of people in preserving and presenting Waiheke's unique history?  Here are some ways you can do that:

• Be a Museum host.  The Museum is open from noon to 4PM on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, as well as on public holiday Mondays, and we always need volunteers for Museum duty.  We'd be happy to show you the ropes once or twice, then you're ready to go!

• Help man the gates for the Jazz Festival.  We expect good crowds on Labour Weekend, and some of them might even be interested in history.  We'll need several volunteers.  Can you help out?

• Join the Committee.  The Historical Society normally has a Committee of eight or so active volunteers, who run the Society and Museum on a day-to-day basis.  But recently we've lost two of our committee members.  Would you like to become more involved?

• Help with the Taonga Heritage Garden.  Whether you've got a green thumb or a pink, brown or orange one, come to one of our mucking-in sessions.

• Be our archivist -- see above.

If any of these ideas strikes your fancy, get in touch:

• Ring the Museum on 09 372 2970 during opening hours, or Judith on 09 372 7760.

• Come to the Museum during opening hours.

• Speak to any member of the Committee.

• E-mail us at info@waihekemuseum.org.nz.

• Write to us at P O Box 206, Ostend, Waiheke Island 1843.

Hope to see you soon!