Number 40 December 2015

President: Margaret Hannan 325 2588Secretary: Margaret Morrish 325 2790Editors for this edition: Margaret Hannan, Adriana de Groot 325 3320

In November 1982 Selwyn’s local paper, The Guardian, reported, “Lincoln township will really be entering into the spirit of things next month with the community’s first ever Christmas Pageant.”

The Pageant on Saturday 18th December 1982 set the traditions for all those that have followed. Father Christmas was the highlight in a procession of festive floats, representing Lincoln organisations, and decorated bikes and trikes, ridden by Lincoln children. All made their way to the fete at ‘Village Square’, to watch national dancing demonstrations, and to enjoy the stalls, chocolate wheels, and refreshments, while listening to the band. The local shops were all open. Organisers were from the local business community, and included spokesman Mr. Ern Duffell, from the Lincoln Drapery and Gift Centre. Mr Duffell expected the Parade to go down very well as long as the weather was good. When asked, “Will it be a hit?” Mr Duffell replied, “It can’t miss, it’ll be super.”

And indeed the annual Lincoln Christmas Parade and Pageant has been super ever since, with only one cancellation, in 2014, when the weather was not good.While the route for the first parade wasn’t noted, the following year, floats were to gather at the Ellesmere Country Club (Edward Street, now the Ecan site), and then follow the parade route along Edward Street, East Belt, North Belt, and West Belt to Gerald Street – a route used every year until recently.

As well as Father Christmas and his young helpers, highlights of the Parade continue to include costumed, well-known members of local groups on their decorated floats, fire engines and police car, the Parish nativity scene, traction engines, tractors and vintage cars, pipe bands, marching teams, elves, clowns, llamas and donkeys, and decorated bikes, trikes and scooters.

Mr. Alex Mackrell, one of the organizers of the 1983 Parade noted, “Christmas just used to come and go in Lincoln and now we have people saying they want to be included.” The success of the first Lincoln parades is remembered to be due to the efforts of Brian Carter, the ‘unofficial mayor of Lincoln’ and a committee of local business owners

In 1985 The Christmas Pageant Committee hoped that, “the occasion will be a happy gathering where residents can meet other locals, can see and support those groups active in the community, and enjoy themselves!” That wish certainly hasn’t changed over the years.

Lincoln and Districts Historical Society wishes all members and their families a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Nga mihi o te Kirihimete me te Tau Hou.

The First Lincoln Christmas Pageant – it was super!

Fourth Lincoln Christmas Parade, Gerald Street, 1985. Photo LHS351a

Lincoln & Districts Community Care float at the first Lincoln Christ-mas Parade, 1982. Photo LHS348

Sources:The Guardian, 24 Nov 1982;Central Canterbury News, 7 Dec 1983;Central Canterbury News, 11 Dec 1985

Lincoln and Districts Historical Society

It is with sadness that we record the death of Alistair Campbell on 3rd October this year.Alistair was a valued member of our Committee, and also the extremely hardworking and creative editor of this Newsletter from 2003 to 2015.

Alistair not only edited and produced 21 newsletters in this time, but also contributed many articles, and selected photos from our collections to encourage members to enjoy and think about their local history. His 2008/9 two-part article, summarizing and updating the history of the Lincoln Community Centre, is a key resource. If we had known that Alistair was also the Editor for at least four other publications over this time, we would never have jibbed at writing articles for him!

We valued Alistair’s clear thinking and incisive comments at our meetings, and the wealth of his knowledge about the Lincoln community, drawn from his teaching and research career at Lincoln University, his work for his students & colleagues, and his experience in local organizations, including the Lincoln Community Committee, and Lincoln Trust.Alistair worked very hard for the best outcomes for the Lincoln community.

Alistair is missed by us all, as will be that wonderful team, ‘The Campbells.’

We extend our deepest sympathy to Pat and all the family.

Dr. Alistair Shand Campbell (1935-2015)

Lincoln and Districts Historical Society

Collection on Kete Selwyn

The Society has a rich collection of historical photos, and together with our research newsletters and document collection, we have a treasure trove of information and images about people, places and life in Lincoln and surrounding districts over the past 150 years.During the year, we have worked with Selwyn Libraries to make these treasures more accessible by adding them to Kete Selwyn, the digital repository for local Selwyn history.

Progress to date has seen the Society newsletters from no.1(1991) to no.18(2003), and photos from our Transport, People, and Village collections added to our own basket or kete, within Kete Selwyn. We are including all the information we have about the photographs and would welcome additional comment and stories about the people, places and scenes that they show. Go to http://keteselwyn.peoplesnetworknz.info/

We have made the photos available under the Creative Commons Attribution – Non Commercial Licence 3.0. This licence allows further use for local or family history research, and school projects. Lincoln and Districts Historical Society wish to be acknowledged if you do use any of our materials. Anyone intending to use the images commercially should email our Secretary at finchleigh@xtra.co.nz

Our thanks go to Selwyn Libraries’ Digital Services Librarian, Christine Grant, and to volunteer researcher and local historian, Lynda Seaton, for their support and expertise.

Other important collections within the Kete include Soldiers of Selwyn, which commemorates the local men and women who lost their lives during World War 1.These biographies have been researched and written by Lynda Seaton. There is also the School Days kete with information about schools in the Selwyn area.

Keep an eye on Kete Selwyn as these collections grow – and consider how you could contribute your own family story or photographs.

Dr Alistair Campbell, 2013Photo courtesy of Lincoln UniversityLiving Heritage: Tikaka Toku Ihotaken by David Hollander

Lincoln and Districts Historical Society activities in 2015

Autumn: Visit to Greenpark

Our warm thanks to John Stalker and Mary King for hosting a walking tour of the Greenpark area in April. After becoming lost in time and space at the amazing Greenpark Creamery Museum, we were privileged to step inside St. Mark’s Church (1881), before exploring traces of the railway at Greenpark, and then viewing the foundations for the new Community Centre. Greenpark School (1871-2014) and Greenpark War Memorials were also on the itinerary.

Read more in: One hundred years in green pastures: the story of the Greenpark School and District 1871-1971. Available from LU Library or Christchurch City Libraries.

We were thrilled that more than 40 people joined us at Greenpark. A visit to Springston is planned for 2016.

Greenpark Creamery Museum, 2015 Photo: Peter Riedinger

LHS visit to Greenpark Creamery Museum, 2015 Photo: Peter Riedinger

Winter: The Recyclables at Liffey Cottage

An energetic Halswell cycling group, The Recyclables, made the most of fine winter Tuesdays by cycling to Lincoln and then enjoying lunch on the sunny verandah of Liffey Cottage. We were pleased to open both Liffey Cottage and Pioneer Hall for the cyclists and the Tuesday Trekkers walking group to explore

Winter: A virtual tour of Gallipoli with military historian, Dr. Mark Wilson.

In April Mark Wilson led a tour to the ANZAC WW100 Commemoration at Gallipoli, and emailed a short video to the Lincoln ANZAC Day Commemoration. While the images arrived, his words were lost in transmission. At our well-attended AGM on 9th August we heard directly from Mark. His insightful and moving presentation about the campaign on the Gallipoli peninsula and the Commemoration there this year was especially poignant as we were meeting on the anniversary of Chunuk Bair.

Listen to Once on Chunuk Bair, Philip Mann’s radio adaptation of Maurice Shadbolt’s critical look at the Gallipoli campaign, through the eyes of the soldiers.http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/thedramahour/20150802

Several members of The Recyclables at Liffey Cottage, 2015. Photo: Adriana de Groot

We look forward to your visit!www.facebook.com/LincolnandDistrictsHistoricalSociety

Spring: Heritage Market and Lincoln Historical Walks

On Saturday 21st November, around thirty people joined us on our two walks from Liffey Cottage to the Heritage Market on the lawn behind the Library. Christchurch visitors and locals alike were intrigued to see inside Liffey Cottage (1875), the beautiful Union Church (1881), Coronation Library (1912), now Down by the Liffey Gallery, and Pioneer Hall (1874).

At The Laboratory (2015), owners, Lisa and Martin Bennett, told great stories about sourcing and installing the recycled materials they have used in their building, from the Rangi Ruru Girls School boarding house stairs, to weatherboards and doors from a Rakaia farmhouse. Their enthusiasm for craft brewing was also contagious! Let’s do it again next year – thank you Lincoln Farmers and Craft Market.

Find out more in our Lincoln Historical Walk brochure, at:http://www.sensationalselwyn.co.nz/content/library/Lincoln_Historic_Walk_Brochure.pdf

Read even more in Neville Moar’s 2011 book, Fitzgerald’s Town. Lincoln in the 19th Century, and in Jenifer Roberts’ 2014 book Fitz: The Colonial Adventures of James Edward Fitzgerald, published by Otago Univ Press. Both titles available from Selwyn Libraries.

Summer: Lincoln Christmas Parade and Pageant

Pioneer Hall will be open on the day of the Christmas Parade and Pageant, Saturday 12th December from 10.00am - 1.00pm. Come along and have a look at our new displays of Lincoln Primary School class photographs. Can you help us identify pupils and teachers? Do you have any photographs you would like to donate?

Lincoln Primary School will be celebrating 150 years in 2016.

Union Church, Lincoln. Mary King talking with visitors on our historical walk, November 2015. Photo: Carole Bourdot Open Day, Liffey Cottage, James Street, Lincoln, 2015.

Photo: Carole Bourdot

Lincoln Primary School 1915, Photo LHS645

Summer 2016 Open Days

Liffey Cottage and Pioneer Hall will be open from 2-4pm on Sunday 3rd January, 2016 Sunday 7th February 2016Sunday 6th March 2016