Ag 03oct 2014

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ASHBURTON

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Friday, October 3, 2014

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THE INDEPENDENT VOICE OF MID CANTERBURY

$1m windfall for museum BY SUE NEWMAN

SUE.N@THEGUARDIAN.CO.NZ

Ashburton has scored a huge win in the latest hand-out of Government funds, securing a $1.086 million grant for the district’s new art gallery and heritage centre. The money has come from the Government’s regional museums policy pool, a fund dedicated for capital development at regional museums with nationally significant collections. And no one is happier at the funding windfall than Ashburton Museum manager Michael Hanrahan. Traditionally grants from the fund are made to larger museums with collections of national significance, but a simple war uniform may have been the key that secured Ashburton a share of this money, Mr Hanrahan said. The uniform worn by Ivan Rankin Cornelius Cunningham Graham during New Zealand’s land wars, is complete and in mint condition. It is the only one of its kind in New Zealand. This collection along with the Wakanui artifacts, acknowledged as the second most significant moa hunter collection in New Zealand, formed the basis of the application, he said. The art gallery also has its own collection of national significance with the David Elliott collection. Over a number of years the museum had tried to tap into this fund but had not been

successful, and having secured more than $1 million with its latest application was a huge coup, he said. The grant would off-set the complex’s debt to the community, mayor Angus McKay said. It comes hot on the heels of the final bill for the complex blowing out almost $3 million. “It’s brilliant news, it’s very welcome. Council staff put in a lot of work to secure this money but it’s something you can never count on,” he said. The grant was a major vote of confidence in the centre and the Canterbury region, Rangtiata MP Jo Goodhew said. “This grant recognises how valuable the Ashburton Art Gallery and Heritage Centre is for the wider Canterbury region. It will be an outstanding cultural and educational resource for the community and tourists, and holds many items of national significance among its combined collections,” she said. The building would also serve as a potential hub for other collections in the event of future natural disasters because of its rigorous construction to 100 per cent of code (NBS). “The funds will be used to pay down costs incurred by the Ashburton District Council in building the gallery, which will be welcomed by ratepayers,” Mrs Goodhew said.

Beef prices on the rise Beef is running low and prices are set to soar.

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PHOTO EDEN KIRK-WILLIAMS 021014-EKW-035

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