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Lions Club of Kowhai Coast has donated $5000 to Warkworth Museum to help support fundraising for the installation of a lift, which will improve access to the museum’s upper floor.
Members gathered at the museum last month to officially present museum president Jo Haswell with the money, which was collected during its Treemendous Christmas Tree Display at the Masonic Hall.
Lions president Pam Neilson said the club was pleased to support the project as part of its community focus.
Haswell said the Lions’ donation showed the community was behind the museum and the lift.
“That funding is really important to us. Community donations are playing an important role in progressing the project.”
Originally, the lift was included as part of earlier upgrade work to the building.
“But we didn’t get enough funding from our grants. So it’s now a separate project,” she said.
The lift would open up the displays, collections and archives on the second floor of the museum, particularly to older visitors, but also people with young children and babies.
Haswell said the lift would also benefit museum volunteers, who presently used a narrow staircase to move items and exhibits into and out of the upper level.
The lift is expected to be installed within the next couple of years as fundraising continues through several initiatives including the Warkworth Museum Op Shop and the museum-run pop-up store on Neville Street.
Meanwhile, Lions project director Elizabeth Price said the club was considering changes to the format of the Treemendous fundraiser as members reviewed how the event could operate in the future.
“Because we’re all getting a lot older, it’s becoming quite hard for us to run. We’re not 100 per cent sure, but at this point we’re going to have a sale of our trees and decorations towards the end of October or early November.”
Discussions were ongoing and no final decision had been made on a revised format.
Price added that the club always encouraged new members to join and take part in local initiatives.
“We offer friendship, fellowship and connection with your community, whether you’re young or old.”
To find out more about membership contact Lois Burton 027 495 1760 Burton@xtra.co.nz or Olwyn Hill 021 252 8114 olwynhill@gmail.com
