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Golden Bay Museum Society Incorporated

  • Closing In? Very exciting

      10 October 2016
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    Kia ora koutou wonderful donors -- we have great news.

    In the last week of September we learnt that Pub Charity had donated the cost of the special glass ($3241) and then our council covered the cost of replacement decking ($1760).

    So ... with your help we've actually raised enough funds to cover the construction costs, which is a HUGE relief. We're still gently fundraising to cover the costs of display panels and a booklet to mark the opening ... late December is Alan's best guess for the whale skeleton to arrive -- you'll definitely hear about it!

    This week the gib board is being installed--so it's not long to go before the Whalery is handed over, after 2+ years of fundraising. It's a good feeling to bring a really "bright idea" to fruition, thanks to help from many people.

    Thank you again for your generous support -- with grateful thanks from the Board and staff..

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  • Getting Dressed! (13 September)

      14 September 2016
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    The Building paper is going on and the windows should arrive next week--we decided the special UV-resistant glass was essential. Which of course is a bit of a financial risk for us--but we're sure you'll help us if you can. We still need to find about $1500 to cover the absolute basics -- and of course I confess we do have a wish list -- like signage!

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  • ROOF & RAMP! -- Friday 2 September

      3 September 2016
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    Yes--it's starting to look almost finished; fantastic progress after 4 weeks. Thanks GB Builders. We've committed to the special glass--hope you can help us with that final $3000+

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  • FRAMED! (And that's good news)

      28 August 2016
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    Good weather and hard work have brought a huge change to the Whalery. Here's what it was looking like yesterday (Saturday 27 August), so it won't be long before the roof is on. It looks impressively sturdy, and had special engineering requirements because of the big front window.

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  • Progress report--Whalery

      19 August 2016
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    It's really exciting to see the progress on our Whalery. The weather has been kind and everything is starting to take shape after the deconstruction phase. We have hit a last-minute bump in the funding road because we found that museum-grade glass wasn't specified, So we need to find $3,000 quite soon to cover those costs. You've done your bit ... maybe you could encourage another person to help us? Thanks! ...

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  • It's Happening!

      9 August 2016
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    Hard to believe but after 2+ years, our exciting Whalery project is really underway. On Monday 8 August, Golden Bay Builders started the deconstruction phase which will allow the extension to be created. We're still fundraising--for UV resistant glass in the big windows. This will protect the whale skeleton and other displays from the damaging sunlight. So, if you can help a little more ... that would be wonderful.

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  • Competition for Primary Schools

      5 August 2016
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    Thanks, Ray White Golden Bay for your Whalery fundraising competition -- local primary school students had to colour in a drawing of the whalery and tell a whale tale. Winner of the top prize was Lief of Motupipi School and his drawing is showing on our Give-a-Little page. Hop over to our website (www.goldenbaymuseum.org.nz) to read Lief's wonderful story.

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  • It's happening!

      20 May 2016

    Great news--our whalery will soon begin construction. A local builder (Steve Chamberlain) now has a signed contract with Tasman District Council, which is project managing the Whalery for us. So it should all be done by next summer, which is really exciting to look forward to. But we still need to raise a few more dollars ...

    ... a generous local has given us a personal loan to cover "the gap" to start building. We need to raise about $4,000 more to repay that. And some help with the information display costs. So, please help if you can -- Thanks! This will be so special for Golden Bay and all the visitors who come here.

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  • Whalery donations? Yes, please!

      1 May 2016

    Hello, our whalery "Cause" page closed last night (30 April) but we still need to raise $5000 to go ahead with the build.

    Donations made to our organisation page will go towards the whalery until we reach our target. Thanks very much, everyone.

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  • Whalebones come up for air

      26 April 2016
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    After months of soaking in bathtubs to remove the oil, the whalebones are at last drying out before careful removal of the final hard waxy deposits. Here, whale-man Alan McLean holds one of the beautiful hollow jawbones.

    Everyone is looking forward to the next stage, when they'll be carefully joined together ("articulated") for display in the museum -- once the Whalery is built! That will be a great day ... please help us get there -- we just need another $6,000. Donations are eligible for tax credits.

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