History – Kowhai seedling bears fruit

As the story goes, three Warkworth identities were having a conversation in Kowhai Park, when the question of the town having its own festival was raised. The men were Phil Wilson, Jim Ferguson and Jack Keys, and as the idea expanded in their minds they agreed that the most appropriate time to hold such a celebration would be when the kowhai was blooming along the riverbank. The support and cooperation of many people was required to plan such an event and Warkworth was a very small town in 1970.

A combined committee comprising members from the Rotary Club of Warkworth, Warkworth Jaycee and the Lions Club of Warkworth was formed to consider the project.

The souvenir programme produced for the first festival held in September 1970 is now a collector’s item. Mr Keys, the well-known historian, was well qualified to write a short history of the early settlement of the area and the booklet also featured a new phase of the town’s progress, namely the construction of the Earth Satellite station and the new cheese factory.

The programme itself covered 10 days of activities involving a number of clubs and organisations. All mail posted at the post office was stamped with the slogan ‘Come to Warkworth, the Kowhai Town’. It was hoped that the kowhai seedlings made available would mature and add more colour to future festivals. The prospect that there would be more festivals and that it would become an annual event became more likely when a second successful festival was held in 1971. About this time there was a move to provide the town with a museum to showcase the history of the local area. This was an ambitious undertaking and took some time to complete.

Since the museum was established in Parry Kauri Park, events have been regularly scheduled to be included in the Kowhai Festival programme. This year, the museum will hold an Open Day on Sunday October 11. Sections of the museum, which are not usually open to the public, will be on view to give visitors an opportunity to see behind the scenes. The museum has an impressive textile department which is worthy of a visit. The archives will be open to answer any questions on local history. The amazing photograph collection is also kept in this area.

Visitors cannot fail to be moved by the World War 1 exhibition in the ASB room. Don’t miss the display of children’s clothing from earlier times or the new drawers which pull out to reveal fascinating treasures. Outside there will be all the fun of the fair with much to interest children and adults.