Rutherford: "Full steam ahead!" - Mayor Lianne Dalziel
27 January 2015
Mayor Lianne Dalziel gave a stirring speech at an event to mark the donation of the Lord Rutherford of Nelson model locomotive to Rutherford's Den, see http://resources.ccc.govt.nz/files/TheCouncil/mayor/2014/20140916RutherfordsDen.pdf for the text of the speech.
Rutherford: Full Steam Ahead!
Canterbury Museum – Thursday 4th September 2014 – 5:30pm
Assoc Prof Richard Hartshorn, Jen Crawford Chair of the Arts Centre Board, Jenny May, Margaret
Austin Ladies & Gentlemen
In the post-quake era the initial focus of recovery was on the restoration of basic services and
infrastructure. However, from the outset it was acknowledged that recovery is about much more
than ‘bricks and mortar.’ It is about coming to terms with the social and emotional impacts of a
disaster, reviving personal wellbeing and sustaining community spirit. This is where cultural
heritage has an important contribution to make.
Before I speak about the event we are here for – can I just say how personally I know that to be
true. I watch the loving restoration of the Arts Centre from the Council building and show it off to
all my visitors – be they local or international. I was married in one of the quadrangles and we
held our reception in the Great Hall, so it is a very special place for me.
Following the devastation of the Canterbury earthquake sequence that began four years ago
today at 4.35am, the majority of the city’s established cultural heritage institutions including
galleries, museums, libraries and archives suffered damage and were either temporarily or
permanently closed. Among the institutions affected was Rutherford’s Den, located in the Clock
Tower of the Arts Centre.
This interactive exhibition space and education centre housed in the rooms where New Zealand’s
most famous scientist, Ernest Rutherford, studied, attended lectures and undertook his earliest
experiments, (along with the rest of the building), suffered extensive damage in the earthquakes,
forcing its closure.
In the post-quake context, bereft of a home, Rutherford’s Den reinvented itself and hit the road in
a van, delivering educational programmes in schools to inspire students and help primary and
secondary school teachers deliver aspects of The New Zealand Curriculum. This ‘reinvention’ is a
brilliant example of adaptation in the face of adversity – one of the true definitions of resilience.
The first part of the earthquake strengthened Arts Centre complex, including Rutherford’s Den, is
scheduled to re-open in 2015. This will mark an important milestone in the recovery of our city.
Until then, the work of the Rutherford’s Den Trust will continue to focus on the delivery of
innovative in-school education programmes.
When the “Den” is available again, I am assured by the Rutherford’s Den trustees that it will once
again provide students and visitors with information and hands-on experiences that bring to life
stories about Ernest Rutherford in new and exciting ways.
It will also provide a permanent home for the wonderful model locomotive, Lord Rutherford of
Nelson, that is the subject of this evening’s event - and the story of which we will learn from
subsequent speakers.
