Southland farming history exhibition opens
“It is a wonderful chronicle of our past rural industries and support services.”
One hundred and thirty invited guests were on hand on Saturday as Invercargill MP Invercargill Penny Simmonds, assisted by Southland District Mayor Rob Scott, cut the ribbon to open the Thornbury Vintage Tractor & Implement Club’s new exhibition of Southland’s Farming History.
Both Simmonds and Scott spoke before the cutting of the ribbon.
Simmonds remarked on the important role the display plays in preserving Southland’s rural history.
“It is a wonderful chronicle of our past rural industries and support services.”
She congratulated all on their wonderful efforts.
Scott talked of Southland’s rich history and how it is so important to Southland’s sense of identity and such displays become a drawcard for tourists.
Club President Colin Hitchcock also spokes, as did one of the project’s main drivers Tony Strang, and Fraser Pearce.
A final panel for the exhibit was also unveiled, acknowledging Strang and the team who created the display,
After the exhibition was declared open numerous groups were taken on a tour through the display by members of the club.
Following the celebrations, Sunday was locals’ day with a constant stream of 180 people coming through the doors.
Southlanders will have an opportunity to view the new exhibit and the other facets of the museum during Heritage Month in March.
The facility will be open every Saturday and Sunday from 1.30pm to 4.30pm.
Admission will be just $10 per adult while under 16’s are free. Thereafter the facility will be open on Sunday’s and Public Holiday’s from 1.30pm to 4.30pm.
The centre is signposted on State Highway 99 prior to the appropriate turn-off onto the Thornbury-Waimatuku Road to reach the Thornbury township.