CanterburyHistory Foundation

Report of the Chairman of the Executive Committee

 for the year ended 31 March, 2009

 

In this, our tenth year, we have retained membership, advanced our usual activities, and set out on a neglected course to engage the interest of commercial enterprises.  In accord with our aims, our purpose is twofold: to get the financial support of business for history; and, more important, to ensure that business leaders themselves attend to the history of their own firms and industries.  This course invites an amendment to our Rules.

 

Our Community Historian, Mrs Ruth Low, is working on her history of droving, the moving of sheep and cattle to stock our country's early farms.  The rigours and perils of the job in the nineteenth century, and in the last century, should make interesting reading.  The Canterbury Community Trust's donation in 2008 provided most of the funding.  We are very grateful. 

 

Last year we had a surplus of general funds because we made fewer publication grants; this year the call for grants was stronger and our accounts show a small deficit for the year.  The 2008 surplus was a useful addition to our reserves.  These ensure our activities at a steady level. All but one of the investments of our entrusted funds showed a reduction of capital value - fortunately not a realised loss, but a decline in the assets recorded on our books. 

 

We could not draw any earnings from the life members' capital fund.  The Gerald Hunt Prize Fund barely made a surplus; the Post-Graduates' Travel Fund and the Rhodes Medal Fund both declined as a result of the financial crisis. Happily, the temporary investment of the Community Historian Funds and our own members' reserves yielded positive results.

 

The School of History awards ceremony was, once again, successful and well received by staff, students, parents and friends.  The Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, celebrating its 50th anniversary, was helped in the production of its history.  As a result of our grant for a book on an extraordinary Canterbury alpine adventure the author has reported further success in getting finance for its publication. We were pleased to lead the way. 

 

The Jim Gardner Lecture given by Dr John Wilson on Addington was very well received and drew a record audience. The award of the Rhodes Medal to Mr Richard Greenaway added an important flourish to this occasion and inspired subsequent public recognition of his work.  

 

I appreciate the solid support of the Executive and our sub-committees, which bring the professional help of others to bear on our work.  Mrs Veronica Pyle put much effort into organising the profitable concert in April.  It sprang from her initiative; and we must be very grateful to the willing performers.  We acquired a new committee member during the year when Professor Philippa Mein Smith agreed to being co-opted.  Mr Dick Hlavac ends his term as immediate past-president  and I thank him for his advice and help. 

 

I regret that we lost Mr Chris Adam from the committee because of the work requirements he faced in his position in Archives New Zealand.  Happily, we did not lose his interest in the Foundation.   Dr Marie Peters remains on our awards committee but wishes to retire from the Executive.  Her ten years of generously given time, good judgment, and  contribution to the Executive's deliberations earn the warmest thanks of the Foundation.

 

Once again, we need to recruit new members. In difficult financial times the loyalty and support of present members is critical.  The enlistment of new and young members is vital for our future.

 

Alan Hayward                                                                                              

May, 2009