GRAAFF-REINET NEWS — The 58th Annual General Meeting of The Friends of The Graaff-Reinet Museum was held last Thursday, and both Head of the Museum, Anziske Kayster, and Chairman Peter Whitlock gave full and comprehensive reports on the last year.
The financial success story of the year was, without a doubt, the very generous grant, in excess of R2 million, which the Museum received from the Rupert Historic Homes Foundation. This money has allowed the Museum to undertake the urgent and massively expensive restoration and maintenance work that has been the source of major concern to the Board for many years.
“It is hard to explain the sense of relief experienced with the lifting of this enormous burden from the shoulders of the Board and staff” said Whitlock. “The slow process of physical restoration of Reinet House has been accompanied with a lifting of spirits and greater optimism”. Work that was undertaken includes the complete replacement of all the thatched roofs, which was the single largest expense, and the complete renovation of the exterior of the Reinet House complex. This included the restoration and replacement of decayed doors and windows, restoration of ironmongery and decorative ironwork, repairs to the stoeps and pergolas, repairs to leaking flat roof and general repairs and painting of all buildings and boundary walls. The restoration process was completed about a month ago and the Reinet House complex now once again looks absolutely immaculate.
“The wagon house, probably the most neglected building in the complex, had not received significant attention since its construction in the 1970s but now looks resplendent with its new thatch roof, sparkling white walls and black gates” Whitlock continued. “The fifty year old thatching of this building was in particularly poor condition and its replacement alone would have been an impossible financial burden for the Museum. It has been nothing short of a blessing to have been in a position to do as much as we have and without a single financial burden. We, and here I include the entire Graaff-Reinet community, certainly owe the Rupert Historic Homes Foundation a massive debt of gratitude”.
He went on to explain that the Save Reinet House fund raising project will continue in order to slowly but surely build up a dedicated maintenance fund for the future. Other work remains to be done, and old buildings require constant attention to ward off decay.
During this past financial year the institution was submitted to various auditing procedures from external bodies and to the delight of all, the South African Revenue Service, The National Lotteries Distribution Fund and National Treasury all presented the Graaff-Reinet Museum with unqualified audits and commendable remarks.
Both Whitlock and Kayster were full of praise for the dedication and support from the Muuseum staff and members of the Board. The loyalty and commitment from each Board member is very encouraging to the members of staff, who are often working under tremendous pressure. However Whitlock commented that the lack of participation by the municipal and departmental representatives to the Board, who have not attended a single meeting, is deeply disappointing as municipal councillors and senior departmental officials could and should be important conduits of information to higher authority and provide channels of communication and influence to the benefit of the institution.
He stated further that the single biggest disappointment remains the apparent negligent attitude of the Directorate of Museum’s and Heritage Resources of the Department of Sports, Art and Culture who despite countless official approaches, over a period of years, have still made no effort to meet with the Board to discuss the serious challenges which face the Museum. Undertakings have been given by senior officials on a number of occasions but absolutely nothing has come of them.
A highlight of the year for Kayster was the honour in May of hosting the International Museum Day Celebrations for the Sarah Baartman District. It was a resounding success with bands playing and learners singing. “At this Museum we know that education is the most powerful weapon for changing the world and we use it to the best of our abilities,” she said. Over the past financial year the Museum has hosted various school groups not only from Graaff-Reinet and the surrounding areas, but also further afield.
The partnership between the Museum and the Community Tourism Office is reported to have been of tremendous benefit to the Museum both financially and operationally. Kayster thanked Marizzane and her committee, and Priscilla and the staff of the Tourism Office, for the significant contribution they have made to the smooth operation of the Museum. She is hopeful that this partnership will be a long and mutually beneficial one.
The guest speaker at the meeting was Professor Johannes Haarhoff, a civil engineer, who has retired to Graaff-Reinet. He is a railway enthusiast and is currently involved in organising the archives of Transnet. His interesting talk centred around the Ingogo and Lang’s Nek railway line, and encouraged many questions from the rapt audience.
Liesl Heunis and Brian Hough were re-elected as the subscribers’ representatives to the Museum Board, and Glenda Mackelina and Joy Williams were co-opted until such time as the nominations for board members are invited from the MEC for Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture.
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