Gone but not Lost

Changes in New Zealand society have seen many clubs and organisations wither and die and Martinborough hasn’t been immune.   That was brought home recently when two collections were gifted to the museum.

Ian Henderson’s nephew brought in a box of club records for the Jaycees (Junior Chamber of Commerce), The Cricket Club and the Indoor Bowls Club – all now gone.  Ian’s meticulous handwritten documentation provides a window into this lost world.  

The names of the club officers, the events they organised, the games they played are all captured.   This may seem insignificant now but this is important social history.  It provides us, and perhaps more importantly those who come after us, with a vivid snapshot of a particularly time in the history of our town.

The second gift was a series of photo albums from Noeline White, one of Martinborough’s oldest residents.  Again, these relate to a once vibrant Martinborough organisation; The Country Women’s Institute, which was at one time New Zealand’s largest membership organisation.   Its aim was to bring women together for  “the improvement and development of community life in rural areas”

The museum is proud to have these collections that capture our history and tell many stories about our past.  

These collections are not currently on display but can be shown any time, on request.

The museum is open Saturdays 11.30-3.30 and Sunday 11.30-1.30 or on request.