While the masthead from the Forrest Hall, recovered from 90 Mile Beach several years ago, may not be seen by the present chair and his self-appointed trustees at the Far North Regional Museum as a significant item in the history of the Far North, it is indeed ofgreat significance to the people of Parengarenga, who greatly assisted the sailors who managed to get safely to shore on that day in 1909.
Much effort was put into recovering the masthead from 90 Mile Beach and transporting it to the old museum in Kaitaia, where a team of volunteers worked many hours cleaning and water-blasting the mast for preservation, with the intention of displaying it at the new museum in the Te Ahu Centre.
So much for all this effort. My understanding is that the masthead is now in pieces after its fate was decided by the chairman and trustees of the FNRM to cut it up and turn it into trinkets. What sort of message does this send to our community, that expects better things from people charged with protecting local history?
My gut feeling is that the current chair and trustees of the Far North Regional Museum should be sacked and removed from the office. The same chairman supported the spending of a million dollars of ratepayer money that was a complete and utter loss during the process of creating what is now the Te Ahu Centre.
I have made contact with the Ministry of Culture and Heritage, and am given to understand that the ministry will be writing to the Far North District Council requesting an update on the current status of the masthead.
A lot of history is attached to the Forrest Hall, including a dramatic lifeboat rescue on the coast off Devon when she almost went aground in 1899. I will be interested to hear the reaction and thoughts of the chair and committee of the Lynmouth Memorial Hall in Devon on hearing of the fate of the masthead.
