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Book proposal: Help preserve the history of the NZ Deer Cullers Incorporated Society.

  • An afternoon at the Croatian Club, west Auckland.

      1 April 2025
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    The givealittle fundraiser has now raised $6337. The campaign will run through to August, making that a rounded 12 months of promotion. Along with the researching, writing, cataloguing all the images and materials into a digital archive, I’m out there promoting the book project, talking to as many people as possible. I had a lovely time recently at the Croatian Club in west Auckland, selling Finding Frank books and handing out givealittle flyers. I’m happy to say it was a successful afternoon. I sold some books and had a donation come in the next day. There’s still a way to go to reach the goal. I ask you, please share the givealittle page with others, so far, the support has been tremendous. It warms my heart, my soul, to know I have this amazing community backing me.

    As always, thank you and be well.

    Louise

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  • NZ Deer Cullers Reunion Hokitika March 2025

      15 March 2025
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    Dear donators and awesome supporters,

    I'm thrilled to be sharing a little of the deer cullers reunion with you. And to announce the results of the deer cullers raffle to raise funds for the campaign. Sponsored by Wildoutdoorsman of Hokitika. We raised a total of $735. A great result, showing the support from all there. Here’s a photo of myself receiving the donation from president of NZDC John McCann and on the left Ernie Mason one of the reunion committee members. I conducted nine interviews, recording some great and memorable deer culling stories! I also received a cache of documents and photos from several people for the book. All in all, a very successful trip. To help with the writing and editing process I’ll be utilising the givealittle funds for a subscription to Grammarly Pro, this is an online editing service. I’ve used Grammarly Pro previously, and can vouch for its efficacy as a writing tool. I’m thankful to you all for making this possible. We have another few months to meet the goal of $10.000. At present it’s a few dollars short of $6000. What a tremendous effort so far from everyone involved. Thank you.

    Go well.

    Louise

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  • South Island Research trip 27 Feb-9 March

      21 February 2025
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    To my awesome donators and supporters,

    We are now over the halfway mark - and the campaign has been extended to early May with the option to extend another 2 months if needed to reach the goal. I’m still on the promotional path, and here's a photo taken at NZDA Auckland club night last week, with NZDA member Brian Winton. I talked about the givealittle campaign, handed out flyers and sold some books. NZDA have been very supportive of Finding Frank and this new book project.

    Exciting news: next week I’m down to Hokitika for the annual deer cullers reunion, where I will interview and gather more for the book. Then it’s Christchurch and Kaikoura to meet up with more deer cullers, conduct interviews and look at photos and memorabilia from their hunting days. This trip was planned last year and involved a lot of organising. The expenses incurred have been helped by your kind donations. As always, I am very grateful for your generosity. I'll be sending out another update when I return. Until then, talk to others, share the campaign link, and stay well.

    In gratitude

    Louise

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  • Change to closing date

      3 February 2025
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    To my awesome donators,

    I have extended the closing date of the givealittle campaign. This allows more time to reach the goal of $10,000. Also, very importantly it will cover the period of my first South Island research trip in March, which includes attending the Deer Cullers reunion in Hokitika, where I will be promoting the fundraiser and talking about the book and where its all at. Thank you for your support and please spread the word, and share the givealittle page. We are $200 away from reaching $5000 what a tremendous effort, and as always I am very grateful to you all.

    Go well.

    Kindest regards

    Louise

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  • Interview with Fred Dickson and co.

      19 January 2025
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    On Saturday 18 January, I enjoyed a very productive day trip to Thames to visit deer cullers' Fred Dickson, Andy Leigh and Jock Spinks. It doesn’t get much better than that! Three veteran cullers together. Being privy to, and listening to these guys reminisce of times past, of their continued camaraderie - these are truly golden moments. Givealiitle funds help pay for my petrol expenses. And, as always, I am very grateful for all your support on this exciting bookmaking journey. Thank you, bless you. And go well in 2025. Much love Louise

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  • Relax, enjoy . . .

      24 December 2024
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    And here I am having some festive fun.

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  • Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

      24 December 2024
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    Merry Christmas. I wish you joy, good health, and happiness over the holiday season and for the New Year ahead.

    I want to shout out a big thank you for your support of the givealittle campaign, not only your kind donations but also all your words of support and encouragement. Together we achieved this, and it's been a tremendous community effort. We are now well on our way to reaching the goal of $10,000. And to add to this, I’m excited to announce that I have amassed enough research to begun writing the book – one of the early chapters on the introduction of deer into New Zealand. I started just this last week, and it’s exciting to be at this point, the book writing has begun its journey.

    Take care all, and see you in the New Year with another update on my plans for 2025.

    Best wishes

    Louise

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  • Its all happening - another interview under my belt

      1 December 2024
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    I’m starting to accumulate some good, solid research with several interviews now done and dozens of photos and documents scanned and sorted into folders. I’m currently reading some books written by ex-cullers and others on the history of deer in NZ, digging more into those early days when deer were first introduced to NZ and what eventually led to the era of the government deer hunter. My latest interview was with Sonny Cranson. Sonny kindly loaned me two of his photo albums to look through at my leisure. He was a deer culler in the mid-1950s and early 60s. I’ve met him a few times at the reunions, it was nice to spend some good quality time together and hear his story. Sonny made a significant donation to the givealittle campaign, and I’m very grateful for this support, for his generosity and for sharing his photos and stories.

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  • Saturday, 2 November, Sika Show, Mystery Creek, Hamilton.

      8 November 2024
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    I had a productive day at the NZ Outdoor stand, meeting people, selling books, and handing out the givealittle flyers. After the show, I headed down to ex-deer culler Graeme Reinhardt at Benneydale in the King Country. I photographed over 300 documents and conducted an hour-long interview with Graeme. His collection is impressive, going back to 1958 when he first started as a government hunter. All in all, a 500k round trip and well worth it! And made possible with your generous contributions put towards petrol and one night’s accommodation.

    Thank you

    Louise

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  • Sika Show Mystery Creek, Hamilton 2nd & 3rd November

      28 October 2024
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    To all my wonderful donators and awesome supporters,

    The Sika Show is New Zealand’s and Australasia’s largest Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show. I’ll be there all Saturday, and from 1 to 4 p.m. you can find me at the NZ Outdoor magazine stand. Drop by and say hello if you’re around.

    This show will be a fantastic opportunity to reach more people and talk about the fundraising, and I’m stoked to be part of the NZ Outdoor team, with their publication established in 1937 this makes them the longest-running hunting & outdoors magazine in New Zealand. NZ Outdoor have been publishing my articles since 2011, and are currently running a series of extracts from the Finding Frank book. It will be a great day and I’m really looking forward to being there.

    Your kind donations have helped towards the promotional materials for the show: the tee shirt, flyers and posters.

    To all of you, I’m blessed and grateful to have your support.

    Thank you

    Louise

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  • First Research Trip

      26 September 2024
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    To my awesome donators,

    Funds raised so far have helped towards my first research trip to interview and look at the collection of Jock Spinks. Jock was one of the early Forestry Service deer cullers (1960s). I’ve also paid my registration and airfare to attend the next Deer Cullers Inc. reunion in Hokitika next year - where I will glean more info and interviews for the book. I’m so grateful to you all, you’ve helped make this happen! I have some cool ideas in the mix also, to raise awareness for the givealittle campaign, and more trips planned. I’ll be sharing all this as it unfolds.

    Thanks again

    Louise

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  • $1215 raised in three weeks.

      30 August 2024
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    Thank you for your support with gifting funds and your kind messages. This is a great start to the campaign. I'm so grateful to you all.

    Warmest regards

    Louise

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