Minutes of AGM 2025

Minutes of The Karaka Historical Society 28th AGM held in Karaka Museum on Wednesday

21st May 2025.

Present: Hugh Ross, Lois Jamieson, Violet Eggleton, Judith Reeves, Carol Eggleton, Tim

McMaster, Mal Morters, Stewart Madgwick, Barry Hobman, Fraser Mansell, Robert

Higham, Paul Bolton, Alan Cole (FLB)

Apologies: Diane Gellert, Roger Farley. Moved Carol Eggleton, 2nd Judith Reeves.

Minutes: Taken as read. Moved Mal Morters 2nd Carol Eggleton

Matters Arising: There were no matters arising.

President's Report. Hugh Ross presented his report and moved it be accepted. 2nd Violet

Eggleton who thanked Hugh for all his work.

Financial Report: Presented by Fraser Mansell who moved it be accepted. 2nd Hugh Ross.

Archives Report: Judith Reeves presented the archive report and moved it be accepted

2nd Carol Eggleton

Membership Report: We have 107 members , $1275 membership fees , donations $920.

Website has been renewed. Page views are down by about 30%. The constitution is now on the

web page. Moved Stewart Madgwick 2nd Robert Higham who thanked Stewart for hid work

on the webpage.

Election of Officers:

Patron: Violet Eggleton - Lois Jamieson/Hugh Ross

President: Hugh Ross - Carol Eggleton/Mal Morters

Vice President : Carol Eggleton - Stewart Madgwick/Fraser Mansell

Secretary: Lois Jamieson - Carol Eggleton/Judith Reeves

Treasurer : Fraser Mansell - Lois Jamieson/Carol Eggleton

Membership : Stewart Madgwick - Hugh Ross/Fraser Mansell

Archives : ( Judith Reeves/Carol Eggleton) - Lois Jamieson/Stewart Madgwick

Hon Auditor : Michael Elder - Fraser Mansell/Lois Jamieson

Hon Solicitor : Frank Hogan - Hugh Ross/Carol Eggleton

Committee: Elected en masse plus Tim McMaster whose name was left off the list last year.

- Moved Violet Eggleton 2nd Hugh Ross

Honorarium: An honorarium of $120 be paid to the secretary. - Hugh Ross/Carol Eggleton

Constitution: The updated constitution including the new requirements for the Incorporated

Societies Ast 2022 was presented at the meeting. A process of consultation had been

undertaken. It was unanimously accepted by those at the meeting

Franklin Local Board Report:

1. The Franklin Local Board will have a budget of $3million for operation and

expenditure – How do we support our history.

2. Sporting funds being increased.

3. There will be a 50kmh past the Karaka Hall.

4.Jesmond Rd to become a crossroads with lights in the next 5 years.

5. It is planned to have 4 lanes as far as Oira Rd.

6. Three new rail stations are planned – Paerata, Ngakakora( at the end of Jesmond Rd)

and Drury with car parking for 350 cars at each which could be increased to 500.

7. Need to strengthen the wording around community groups.

8. Bus service to come from Clark's Beach to Papakura Railway Station

President's Report 2025

President Update

I would like to welcome you all this evening to the 28th AGM of The Karaka Historical Society.

A special welcome to our Franklin Local Board member, Al;an Cole.

 

You may recall last year that I mentioned many people seem unaware of our Museum, but we had a new sign in the pipeline.. Well, it has happened. From working on the design in May to the sign arriving in August, to finally being  concreted in place in November so it will withstand any westerlies hurled at it.. Thanks to Tim  for the large laminated beam, to Fraser for the nuts, bolts and brackets and I donated  the builders mix  and welded up the frame. Thanks to all who helped put it to place. Also thanks to Kelsey Ross who helped with the design and gave a generous donation toward it.

 

Visits from retirement villages and other groups continue to provide us with a good income with several groups from the Auckland area and Pukekohe having visited.

 

We have accepted offers of tools from Gleeson Bros, and items from the saw milling industry from Neil Duncan. These things keep us busy on our Tuesday morning working bees.

 

Insurance on the Museum is a big expense and we are always looking for cheaper options. If anyone has any ideas please tell us. Fraser learned that we had been overpaying the amount for our lease from Auckland Council. As a result we have been refunded about $4,800.

 

Another serious purpose of this meeting is to update the constitution. More on this later in the the meeting. Carol and Judith have worked very hard on this and a big thank you to them both.

I would like to thank the committee for their hard work through the year. I think we have a great band of workers. Thank you to Lois for the work she does as secretary.

 

The Mansell family visited the Museum as part of their celebrations of having  dairy farmed in the district for 100  years.

 

Finally a mention of those who have passed on. Our sympathy to the family of Maureen Higham, Rex Gazzard, Diana Findlay and Owen Reeve. Also on a sad note the accident Diane Gellert had – falling down the stairs of the mezzanine floor in the hall. Fortunately Diane is recovering well. I would like to thank all those who tended Diane, especially Carol. It could have been far more serious if things hadn't been done properly.

 

We look forward to a good year ahead.

Thank you for your contribution throughout the year.

 

 

 

Hugh Ross

Newsletter May 2022

The Karaka Historical Society Inc.

Karaka Museum

Newsletter for our Members

May 2022 Issue No.30

AUTUMN EDITION

Spanning the Generations......

Karaka Museum has bounced back from a quiet few months over the

summer- while in Covid -19 red setting -with a recent visit of 65-70 juniors

(aged 5 to 7) from Karaka School. Accompanied by their enthusiastic teachers

and parent helpers they had a great experience - supporting their learning

theme of Past, Present and Future in the Local Area.

The kids arrived bubbling with energy and a great little booklet the teachers

had prepared for them - guiding them to find and draw particular items in

the themed areas of the museum. This was a great way of capturing their

interest and they were fascinated by some of the exhibits. Museum

Committee members were on hand to explain and demonstrate how some of

these familiar but different items worked.

There are some great interactive experiences in the museum - always a great

way to learn and remember things. The children were keen to give them a go

and there was some very enthusiastic participation - hand-milking in the

cowshed, shucking and grinding corn, pushing the hand lawn mower, trying

out a typewriter (where's the delete key?), jamming on some musical

instruments and climbing aboard the WW2 Jeep - that's always a hit.

These young students had some insightful comments and questions at the

end of their visit, relating the exhibits to their own grandparents and wider

families and making other connections. They had a wide variety of favourite

things - from the WW2 Jeep and the vintage motorbike to a model ship and

the kids' tricycles.

Our thanks to Karaka School for visiting and for later presenting us with their

learning folder, "Karaka Past Present and Future." The folder is on display in

the Museum for them to enjoy and learn from.

Just prior to Christmas we welcomed Joyce Hill (nee Bycroft) a member and

great supporter of the Karaka Museum on a special visit for her 100th

Birthday. Joyce grew up in Karaka on her family farm at Bycroft Road and

walked across the paddocks to Karaka School in the 1920's and 30's.

Joyce and her family enjoyed a ride with committee member Hugh Ross in his

1923 Ford - the car was just 2 years younger than Joyce.

She showed that it's always fun trying things out as

she popped outside to have a go at hand-milking the cow!

Both of these visits underline what the Karaka Museum is all about. It's a link

to the past for those who have experienced life - a way of sharing memories

and stories with their families and communities. For younger generations it

creates a spark of interest into their history and helps them to understand

the pace and variety of change that can happen in a lifetime.

Karaka Museum welcomes school, club, family and group visits.

Email us at karakahistoricalsociety@gmail.com to arrange a visit.