I’ll just give a general update of events. A group of Arrowtown guys, led by Snow, paid the cost of getting the poplar down by the way. Fantastic. And we’re talking with DoC about a few others to come down. Meanwhile, a couple of real estate Bayleys agents have really stepped up, and are joining with others to carry funding for and organise getting a sign up on the walking track, so the many, many walkers that stop and look down at us, will be able to read about the project, rather than looking puzzled by the spectacle of stone walls laid out just below them. We now have renown heritage stonemason Keith Hinds from St Bathans on our team. What a coup. And already he has identified rare and unusual stonework features in the garden wall. The plan now is for him and me to come back next summer to work with volunteers stabilising the exposed stone walls. So that will be Stage 2 of the project. Stage 1 being clearing vegetation…… which is ongoing.
But what progress has been made….! One young family, armed with loppers and saws, came up during the last Sunday working bee - thank you Mountain Scene for the advertising - and cleared a big swathe of blackberry bramble. And had fun doing it. Later they joined me, Snow and Keith in a marked hollow nearby where I had found the 7 th hut….!! the day before. We all pitched in and worked to free the stones from a thick matting of tree roots covered in periwinkle. The exact outline of the hut still eludes us. But we’ll find it. I’ve got a few days left….
Id better get a move on.
Meantime the word is really getting out there about the discovery at Coopers Tce and I expect the momentum to keep building. I have told the volunteers from Arrowtown - really, really, fantastic, down to earth community people who care about the heritage of the area - that if they eventually want to restore some of the special features of the settlement, and present the entire site as a tourist destination, there are people of power to convince and they might have to fight for it. It’s their settlement after all, not really mine. I also tried to hand the whole project over to them, and they are certainly taking up some of the load off me, but it’s clear they want me to continue managing the project. It’s been such a delight, I’ve made friends here, I feel the support ……. and it’s such a beautiful place ….. it’s not a hard decision to keep going.
Before I go, I just want to say a bit about the funds you folk have raised here. Ever frugal, most of it is still in the bank. I have bought some tools, but it’s becoming clear I need to oil the wheels of progress here, and I have bought people lunches, volunteers coffees etc so it’s been great for that. I have a few expenses myself this GiveALittle page pays for, my IT communications….. unlimited data etc, and petrol for the car while I’m here. I will continue to need funding as air flights down is the biggest cost for me, and I am told this shouldn’t have to come out of my own pocket anymore. Anyway, the pocket is getting somewhat emptier …..
Thanks for your ongoing support …..
