Out to Pasture: Katikati exhibition covers farming past

Val Sexton, left, a volunteer with Western Bay Museum, and its manager Paula Gaelic, were kept busy at the Farm Day hand-churning butter in the old school way, and giving visitors a taste test.

Western Bay Museum has had a busy month since the opening of its latest Out to Pasture — Early Farming Life in NZ exhibition, sponsored by a generous anonymous donor.

Held in the Taylor Bros Transport Ltd gallery, this exhibition takes a glimpse into the histories of our Katikati and Te Puke A&P shows, which were the event of the year, along with some of the farming practices and preparation that went on to get the animals and products ready for show day.

It also introduces visitors to some of our long time farming families of the district —
Morton family — over 100 years of breeding grand champions — milking shorthorns cows to beef shorthorns.

Turner family — over 100 years of farming sheep — rearing prized fat lambs and the change in shearing methods over the years.

Early Milk Supply — Waihi Beach farmers Jack Wheeton and the Littlejohns. Butter and icecream churns and equipment, cheese and dairy production in the early years.

Survey and Fencing the land — with some humour and heritage combined with the "lack of fencing" and Reverend Katterns and his ostriches escaping.

The Francis, Wall and Gane families — all early farmers of Omokoroa, and the changes to the landscape that we see today.

At the March 9 opening of this exhibition, an historical permanent display of our town founder George Vesey Stewart was unveiled. Founder of the only planned Ulster Plantation outside of Ireland, stretching from Katikati to Te Puke, it has taken hundreds of hours to put together, with the help from many volunteers.

George Vesey Stewart was an entrepreneur and visionary and his achievements were truly amazing. So to share his many accomplishments in a simple format, we created a huge timeline of how and when he created and developed our district and region. To present this great part of our local history, has been a proud moment for our team.

There was the price tag of $2000 to have this printed and installed and we are very grateful to "The Friends of the Museum". This committee sits alongside our establishment where friends are paying members in various membership packages available from individual and family memberships annually, to lifetime memberships. Their fees enable the development of the collection and exhibitions. Anyone interested in joining can call in and collect a brochure.

Get a bigger view of bugs and insects

The "Wildlife" exhibition, sponsored by Bee NZ Ltd, is also part of the main exhibition within the interactive wing of the museum. This exhibition will change regularly, partnered with the work that other environmental organisations are doing in our district.

With a grant from John Logan Campbell, two digital microscopes in "Wildlife" enable visitors a very 'up close and personal' connection to insects, bugs, flora and fauna. Local entomologist Dr Peter Maddison and his associate Rosemary have put together an interesting insect display to get us started.

Aongatete Coolstores Ltd has sponsorship naming rights of our 'Technology' section. These sponsorships allow our museum to grow and develop and are paramount for our success. We are owned — by the community for the community — it is our privilege to deliver the best standard we can.

Road show crew takes museum out to the people

The road show crew of volunteers have been working hard this summer — the Crank Up Day last weekend, Federated Farmers Free Farm Day at Welcome Bay, the Katikati, Morrinsville, Waikato and Te Puke A&P shows are behind us now and what great shows they are to be involved with. We give away about 600 tasting samples of freshly churned butter, the maize shelling machine is operating, followed up by the cornflour production, coffee grinding, grandmas old mincer and of course the 1911 rope making machine. Our site at any show is a real hit and there is no rest for the volunteers all dressed in costume. It is a great experience for the visitors to our site and a great tool to promote our museum, share stories and discuss visitor options. Thanks to Taylor Bros Transport Ltd we have the use of their ute to transport Daisy, the cow and all our custom-made furniture and props to the shows wherever they may be.

Western Bay Museum is very busy with many visitors from all over the globe. The installation of the brown tourist signs at each end of town are working really well.

The start of the school year has been exceptional with our education programmes and Museum Group Experience bookings. We have been open for two and a half years and our reputation is growing and our visitor numbers have doubled in this time.

What do visitors think?

30.12.18 Christchurch — "Excellent experience."

06.02.19 Tauranga — "Just hope people appreciate the work done and ongoing commitment given by persons connected to museum."

12.02.19 England — "A well-constructed and interesting exhibition."

19.02.19 Auckland "Exceeded expectations. This is an exceptional regional museum for a town of 5000. This is just amazing and you should be very, very proud."

If you want to be part of this dynamic team, have some time on your hands and believe in preserving history please come and see us about volunteering.