OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Alan Hall. Photo: Nock Empson.
A “pretty special occasion” was marked at the Pirongia Heritage and Information Centre last week.
And, when staff, about 40 guests and guest speaker Alexi Simmons celebrated the centre’s 20th anniversary, its two newest life members were announced.
They are Haupai Puke and Alan Hall who have both been involved with the organisation for the entirety of its two-decade history.
Pirongia Heritage and Information Centre provides information to the public while also acting as a custodian of the town’s history and taonga.
While Haupai was unable to attend last Tuesday, Alan told The News after the gathering he was “greatly honoured” to be named a life member.
In receiving the accolade, Alan paid tribute to one of the centre’s founding members, the late Mary Hurst.
Mary was the centre’s first life member, Alan said – crediting her with being the mentor who helped him first begin his involvement in researching and investigating Pirongia’s history nearly two decades ago.
“I’m really chuffed, absolutely,” Alan said.
“But I must say, a lot of what I’ve learned about Pirongia’s history has been dependent on the contributions of other people. I’ve been very well assisted and I’m incredibly grateful.”
A geographer, Alan has mapped the locations of archaeological sites around Pirongia.
“I also really enjoy answering questions asked of the centre by people who had relatives here,” he said.
“Using genealogy software, I’ve been able to track down a lot of those people and gradually I’ve built up a lot of information about early settlers here – it’s fascinating.”
Additionally, until he stepped down just recently, Alan had also been producing the centre’s regular newsletter for many years and oversaw more than 60 issues.
Long standing centre manager Marilyn Yeates was delighted to celebrate the milestone.
“It’s proven to be quite an exciting little centre really, we find that visitors just love it,” she said.
“It’s very special to be a part of.”
The Franklin Street centre has a paid membership of about 70 and caters for about 2000 visitors a year.
The present day Pirongia Heritage and Information Centre – Te Whare Taonga O Ngaa Rohe O Arekahanara – is based in the building which was the second St Saviour’s Anglican Church.
Built in 1900, it was replaced by the present-day St Saviour’s Church in 1959.
It was sold and moved to the Waikeria Village community and prison chaplains conducted services in it for more than 30 years between 1961 and 1997. In 2000 the church was returned to its place of origin and the centre opened three years later.
Marilyn Yeates, Photo: Nick Empson.
