Tablecloth Update

Last weekend, Isla Bank residents (former and present) came from far and wide for afternoon tea at the museum. Thankfully, someone answered our question about the tablecloth - the occasion it was made for and so on. It was made by Bessie Johnstone as a fundraiser for the Association of Presbyterian Women. You could have your signature embroidered on it for a shilling.

It's always so good when people gather at the museum. There is usually someone who comes out of the woodwork and gives us the background on an object or photograph that we have questions about.

Special thanks to Georgie Carter and everyone else who made the day a great success.

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

Isla Bank Tablecloth

We're trying to find answers about this tablecloth. It has the signatures of Isla Bank people embroidered on it. There are two years - 1953 and 1962 - also embroidered on it in separate places. Men and women have signed it. But what was the occasion - a reunion? A jubilee? A Church gathering? We don't know.

Originally, we were told it was from the Isla Bank PWMU. But with Irish names and men's names, we started to wonder if it was for some other group or occasion.

If you know, please enlighten us.

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

Students Visit

Today, twenty-three students from Isla Bank School made a special visit to the museum to view the Isla Bank display. They came in three groups of 7 or 8 accompanied by "Mrs T".

Peter Campbell, our display manager, welcomed them to the museum and gave an introduction to what they were about to see. There are four different display rooms in the courthouse, covering the Church, Anzac Memorial and the Cemetery; the School; Contractors and Farmers; and People in the News.

Working in pairs, they hunted for answers to questions about the display. Different sets of questions were geared toward different age groups. These were created by the Isla Bank principal, Clare Robinson.

I think the students were surprised to hear that the Isla Bank School started long before the Otautau School and that there was even a world's record made at Isla Bank.

For those who finished early, I talked a little about the courthouse, how old it is, where the judge would sit, and what the witness stand was for. They seemed to soak it up, enacting their own little dramas and sending each other to jail. It made me think the courtroom is a prime venue to hold a children's courtroom play.

We really enjoyed having the Isla Bank students and hope that they will visit again soon.

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

Isla Bank Open

Isla Bank: People. Passion. Pedigree is open. We are still re-doing little things, but come and have a look.

There is so much to cover about the district but we didn't touch the geological side of it - the limestone for which it is named. So I found some science-oriented links to the limestone plains and New Zealand in general here:

This animation shows the break-up of Gondwana and how major parts of the South Island were under water, forming the limestone through layers and layers of crustacean life.
http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/evolution-of-plants-and-animals/1/1 (click the play icon)

This link discusses the geology of New Zealand and shows also the extent of Zealandia, the continent we are part of.
http://data.gns.cri.nz/geoatlas/text.jsp

And this link gives a social history of Isla Bank.
http://www.track.co.nz/islabank.html

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

Coming Soon - Isla Bank District Display

Trustees Mervyn Officer and Peter Campbell working on new display. Photograph © Cathy Onellion.

Our new Display Manager, Peter Campbell, has been diligently putting together the Isla Bank District display these past few weeks. He's relied heavily on photographs, newspapers clippings and handmade items that were loaned by residents of the district.

Isla Bank is following a similar pattern as many other local communities. Sheep farming has given way to dairy, and many longtime residents have slowly left the district. Still, it remains a very beautiful and special place to live, work and raise a family. With new people moving in, bringing new ideas and energy, it can once again be a place to thrive.

In the past, we've created district displays for Bayswater and Gladfield, Aparima, and Fairfax. We hope this will be just as successful. Watch this space for the opening day.

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