Three for the Price of One

Instead of the usual one big display at the museum, we have three small displays going at the moment. There's the Otautau RSA display in the first room which has been up for a few weeks.

Then, local designer/businesswoman, Thelma Froude, has just installed six of her latest fashion designs. These beautiful outfits had a good showing at the Hokonui Fashion Design Awards, all being accepted for the catwalk.

And in the courtroom, we are steadily putting together a 'Men of the Monument' display. This is a biographical display that touches on their lives here and at war. This display will also encompass other interesting aspects of WWI and Otautau and District's part in it.

Three displays for the price of one -- and as always our price is free.

We're open Sundays, 2pm-4pm, and at your request. Your comments are always welcome!

Memories of Service

Our Memories of Service: Otautau RSA Memorabilia display is open. It's a small one-room display that highlights the RSA's work over the years.

The Otautau RSA began in 1919 to help returned soldiers get a fair deal when they came back to civilian life. Land, loans, ongoing medical care and benefits for children were among the many things they'd hoped to lobby for as part of a united group of soldiers across the nation.

Through the years, they've supported their members and families through thick and thin. Every year, they produce the dawn Anzac ceremony which is always well-attended. As the Gallipoli centenary nears, they are busy making plans.

The centennial of the beginning of WWI is next month, and we are working on a display from an Otautau perspective. Don't know if we'll make the deadline but will try!

We're open Sundays, 2pm-4pm, and by request. Your comments are always welcome!

Playbill from the War Years

As part of our WWI commemoration, we are featuring a small display of Otautau RSA memorabilia. There are photos from the unveiling of the war memorial, the opening of the RSA memorial hall, and many other interesting things.

But this little gem stood out for me. It's a playbill or possibly a ticket the size of a business card for a fundraiser for the Otautau Red Cross Society.

The Invercargill Dramatic Company were to perform "In the Trenches" but were an hour late because their car broke down in Fairfax according to the write-up in the Otautau Standard.

The bill contains a few errors: the play was performed on 27 March and the price for adults was 2s, not 1s.

It's delightful the little pieces of Otautau culture that are still around from that era.

We're open Wednesdays and Sundays, 2pm-4pm, and by request. Your comments are always welcome!