The Karaka Historical Society Inc.
Karaka Museum
Newsletter for our Members
May 2022 Issue No.30
AUTUMN EDITION
Spanning the Generations......
Karaka Museum has bounced back from a quiet few months over the
summer- while in Covid -19 red setting -with a recent visit of 65-70 juniors
(aged 5 to 7) from Karaka School. Accompanied by their enthusiastic teachers
and parent helpers they had a great experience - supporting their learning
theme of Past, Present and Future in the Local Area.
The kids arrived bubbling with energy and a great little booklet the teachers
had prepared for them - guiding them to find and draw particular items in
the themed areas of the museum. This was a great way of capturing their
interest and they were fascinated by some of the exhibits. Museum
Committee members were on hand to explain and demonstrate how some of
these familiar but different items worked.
There are some great interactive experiences in the museum - always a great
way to learn and remember things. The children were keen to give them a go
and there was some very enthusiastic participation - hand-milking in the
cowshed, shucking and grinding corn, pushing the hand lawn mower, trying
out a typewriter (where's the delete key?), jamming on some musical
instruments and climbing aboard the WW2 Jeep - that's always a hit.
These young students had some insightful comments and questions at the
end of their visit, relating the exhibits to their own grandparents and wider
families and making other connections. They had a wide variety of favourite
things - from the WW2 Jeep and the vintage motorbike to a model ship and
the kids' tricycles.
Our thanks to Karaka School for visiting and for later presenting us with their
learning folder, "Karaka Past Present and Future." The folder is on display in
the Museum for them to enjoy and learn from.
Just prior to Christmas we welcomed Joyce Hill (nee Bycroft) a member and
great supporter of the Karaka Museum on a special visit for her 100th
Birthday. Joyce grew up in Karaka on her family farm at Bycroft Road and
walked across the paddocks to Karaka School in the 1920's and 30's.
Joyce and her family enjoyed a ride with committee member Hugh Ross in his
1923 Ford - the car was just 2 years younger than Joyce.
She showed that it's always fun trying things out as
she popped outside to have a go at hand-milking the cow!
Both of these visits underline what the Karaka Museum is all about. It's a link
to the past for those who have experienced life - a way of sharing memories
and stories with their families and communities. For younger generations it
creates a spark of interest into their history and helps them to understand
the pace and variety of change that can happen in a lifetime.
Karaka Museum welcomes school, club, family and group visits.
Email us at karakahistoricalsociety@gmail.com to arrange a visit.