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Post by skyhawkdon on Apr 26, 2007 8:22:05 GMT 12
I'm planning to have a last shufti up there on Friday if anyone has any picture requests. I also have it on extremely good authority that that A-4 was put together in a way that would make disassembly extremely difficult, to prevent it ever leaving the base. As an aside, does Whenuapai have a base museum? You are 100% correct about it being "glued" rather than "screwed" together! Without naming names the concerns of some people at the time it was put together have unfortunately come true. The trouble is I don't know where they will put the TA-4, Strikemaster and old gate guard Vampire as there just isn't enough hangar space at Ohakea with the Macchi's still filling a hangar. It will be good to get the Skyhawk and Strikemaster inside though as both have deteriorated badly being stored outside for years.
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Post by phil on Apr 26, 2007 9:42:45 GMT 12
Phil, did you manage to get to the museum with your camera yet? Yes I did, the week after Easter. They are at home on my computer. I took a selection of indoor views, exterior building views, the gardens, memorial plaques and of course the A4 and Blunty.
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 1, 2007 22:18:46 GMT 12
www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/eveningstandard/4044395a20381.htmlOhakea museum issues still to be finalised By LAURA RICHARDS - Rangitikei Mail | Tuesday, 1 May 2007 With the closure of the RNZAF Ohakea Museum 13 days away, the spokesman for the Friends of the Museum wants to find an interim solution as soon as possible. Chris Torr said he attended a brainstorming session last Tuesday at RNZAF base Ohakea. The meeting, attended by representatives of the local government authorities, Destination Manawatu, Vision Manawatu, the Museum Trust Board and enthusiastic supporters, was positive but did not cover the museum closure issue, he said. Instead, the session, chaired by base senior commander Shaun Clarke, produced some "real blue sky stuff". Mr Torr said he will bring the topic to the forefront at a meeting expected to be held this week. In the meantime, Bulls Museum curator Greg Bradley said his museum could take "some of the iconic air force displays until longer term objectives can be met. We'd be honoured to be able to do that". His museum is waiting to find out what items would be loaned to it until a home for some displays is sorted out.
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Post by phil on May 1, 2007 22:39:46 GMT 12
Greg Bradley, aka China Bradley is an ex armourer. It would be good to see some things go to the Bulls museum.
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 2, 2007 17:48:05 GMT 12
Well, this museum closure is officially BIG NEWS.
Today it made the front page of the Cambridge Edition newspaper. Not sure why... but there you go.
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Post by Barnsey on May 12, 2007 1:36:20 GMT 12
www.stuff.co.nz/manawatustandard/4056056a6003.htmlClosure imminent at Ohakea By MERVYN DYKES - Manawatu Standard | Friday, 11 May 2007 Ohakea Museum faces enforced closure in less than 48 hours, but supporters have vowed that it will not go quietly. Just as the doors close at 4pm on Sunday, a Harvard trainer, one of the noisiest aircraft to serve at the Ohakea base, will fly overhead in a rafter-rattling salute. The symbolism will be important to those gathered to witness the closure, because just as the Harvard is a survivor, so is the museum. The Manawatu Standard understands that an announcement about the future of the museum after Sunday will be made either today or earlier next week. The announcement is expected to be that the group will urge a break from the Wigram-based Air Force Museum that forced the closure and the establishment of a new regional heritage aviation trust. Its task would be to operate a new museum and visitor centre on a site that has yet to be identified. The Manawatu District Mayor Ian McKelvie yesterday confirmed that an announcement was imminent, but he would not say what the content would be. Mr McKelvie, who is a member of the working group, said good progress had been made and the tone of later meetings was "certainly much more civil than they have been". "This progress is not going to keep the museum open, but positive steps have been taken to ensure that in future the history of Ohakea will be on display in a facility run in a manner that is appropriate to this area." He said that in the meantime the public would not be without the museum's exhibits altogether, as other ways would be found to display them. There will be speeches outside the museum at about 3.30pm on Sunday, a display by the Classic Military Vehicle Group and the Harvard flyover at about 4pm. The present museum manager Paul Gibson said the public was invited to attend.
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 12, 2007 16:11:31 GMT 12
A lot has been said on this now very long and much viewed thread. Some of it has been spot on accurate, some of it has been pure scuttlebuck. Some of what I have stated I have later been proven to be wrong. Sometimes it is hard to know who or what to believe in an emotive issue like this. Especially when the reasons given officially for the closure are not strictly the real reasons behind the decision.
There have been lots of different opposing views both in this thread and sent to me privately off forum. I think the general consensus is it's a shame that the museum is to close tomorrow, but the fact is after tomorrow the Ohakea Museum will be no more.
I want to take the opportunity to say this:
The RNZAF has been very, very priviledged for the past 31 years to have had two museums, Wigram and Ohakea. As far as I am aware the Army has only ever had one museum, at Waiouru, and the Navy has only ever had one museum, at Devonport. The fact that the RNZAF has had two museums is a priviledge, and one we should be eternally grateful for I think.
The RNZAF and the public should now show gratitude to the pioneers of the Ohakea Museum, including an enthusiastic Warrant Officer (who remains nameless to me) who in 1976 started it all. I wonder if he or any of his family will be in attendance tomorrow at the closing ceremony.
We must thank the various Base Commanders, airmen and airwomen, volunteers, sponsors and supporters who have over those 31 years poured their efforts into preserving the history of Ohakea. Thanks too to the Friends of the RNZAF Museum for their years of efforts to raise funds to keep it in place
A huge thanks to the Ohakea Museum Directors over the years - the late Peter Strugnell, Peter Calkin and Paul Gibson.
We should also thank the RNZAF Museum Trust Board who have supported the Ohakea Museum financially for many years to the tune of millions of dollars. Despite what people think they know, without the Trust Board the Museum would not have survived this long. I'm afraid the RNZAF Museum Trust Board have taken a huge beating over this issue and I do not feel it is warranted, having now been put in possession of the real facts behind the closure, which I am unable to disclose. Let's just say a lot of the rumours are quite untrue and the members of the board have been rather hurt by some of the stuff said on this forum by some people.
So, the museum closes its doors tomorrow. Lets just be thankful that a generation or more of people have had the opportunity to visit this unique museum. Think how many school children have been inspired there and have learned a bit of history from that place. Some of them may now be in the RNZAF themselves.
Whether or not the local bodies ever get a replacement museum up and running, and frankly I doubt it will ever happen as the costs involved would be outlandish, we can at least be thankful that there was a museum and many of us had the chance to visit it.
I still feel that the closure of the museum is very, very sad indeed. But let's not forget that we still have the RNZAF Museum at Wigram, where I still feel the best preservation of our military aviation history is achieved. Wigram is a superb museum, and in a prime location. It's not easy for us North Islanders to visit, but then neither is Wanaka or Omaka, and for me even Ohakea was a hell of a long way away.
With the planned extension to Wigram which is reportedly to begin fairly soon, and perhaps the addition of new aircraft as mentioned in this thread (genuine RNZAF A-4 and Macchi), plus in the next few years the completion of the Oxford and P-40, the future is excellent for RNZAF history. Let's now move on and in future give our support to Wigram.
I will add one more thing, Ohakea Musuem may be to close tomorrow but we won't forget it. I am working on a page for my website which will feature photos of the museum exhibits, and a little about its history. If anyone out there has photos to contribute or memories of the museum (including names of key people involved in the setting up, etc) please email me.
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Post by skyhawkdon on May 13, 2007 8:38:26 GMT 12
"I'm afraid the RNZAF Museum Trust Board have taken a huge beating over this issue and I do not feel it is warranted, having now been put in possession of the real facts behind the closure, which I am unable to disclose. Let's just say a lot of the rumours are quite untrue and the members of the board have been rather hurt by some of the stuff said on this forum by some people."
Dave I don't know what "real facts" you are on about, but if they were real then they would be able to be openly discussed and debated in the public domain. Through the various contributions in this thread I think all of the facts about the Ohakea Museum and Wigram's mismanagement of it have now come out. As we know the "publicly announced" reasons for closing the museum do not stand up to scrutiny (even the RNZAF has denied them and is now backing the creation of an alternative through the new charitable Trust). Why that charitable trust can not, and will not be the RNZAF Museum is the issue I and many others have. If the Museum Trust Board have been hurt by some of the things said on this forum then that is good - they should listen to the message and not try and shoot the messenger!
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Glen T
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 85
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Post by Glen T on May 13, 2007 23:11:50 GMT 12
IT IS DONE. The Ohakea Exhibition Center of the RNZAF Museum Trust Board has been closed and is effectively no more. The afternoon was overcast and a cold wind was blowing. Some 50 or more people were there this afternoon to hear Mr Peter Adamson, GrpCpt Clarke, Mr Paul Gibson and Mr Chris Torr talk of the past people and their dedication. Then of the future and the creation of a new trust that will surpass all restrictions of the past and current expectations, to deliver the history of Ohakea and surrounds. AVM Peter Adamson (rtd) {RNZAF Museum Trust Board} GpCapt Shaun Clarke. (CO OSG) {Operational Support Group} Mr Chris Torr Mr Paul Gibson
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 13, 2007 23:39:43 GMT 12
Glen, thanks for the photos. A sad day. And by your photos a gloomy one - it has been clear blue skies here all day.
I may be wrong but is that Peter Calkin in the centre of the thrird photo too? Two people to the right of the bloke in blue.
That building does not look like it needs refurbishing to me by the way, it's in much better condition than most of the barracks I lived in whilst in the Air Force.
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RobinK
Warrant Officer
Posts: 36
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Post by RobinK on May 13, 2007 23:43:47 GMT 12
Get it right. That's Peter Adamson, not Carey.
Glen's original post has been modified now to correct the error. Dave the Moderator...
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Glen T
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 85
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Post by Glen T on May 13, 2007 23:52:05 GMT 12
Yes Dave, you are correct. It is Peter Calkin. Peter has been teaching at Rangitikei College for some time, while his wife Margaret has been working in the Museum and cafe since the beginning. Peter and his family are responsible for all the paintings on the buildings, red/white/blue stripes, A4, Kiwi roundel, etc and he also built many of the display units inside including the aircraft theatre! Quite remarkable dedication by these people and their friends/helpers with support only from Ohakea. I put that photo up because he was in it, besides the TA4, and Bofors and crowd of course. Peter is talking with GpCapt Shaw James and his wife. The Bofors was given to the Ohakea Museum by the Navy at Kauri Point (requested by Peter). The Armament Squadron here assembled and painted it - I'll find a photo of us on it and scan it some day! The Navalmans Association(!!) in PN has requested to have it at their 'Base'. I was at Linton last week, and noticed they have one too painted all black on a grass area!! (smallnote - thats my boy in the orange jumper on the Bofors with some of his school mates).
The photo showing all the people on the deck - the four people on the left are F/S Paul Stein (Base PRO), Theres Angelo, Mr Dave Watmuff - the Wigram collections manager and WgCdr Russell 'Wax' Mardon (CO OSWOHHQ) - thats "CO Operational Support Wing OH HQ".
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 15, 2007 19:33:42 GMT 12
Museum's last post By LAURA RICHARDS - Rangitikei Mail | Tuesday, 15 May 2007 Insufficient visitors through the Ohakea museum is what forced its closure, says the chairman of the board that oversaw the operation. After the official closing ceremony on Sunday afternoon Peter Adamson said the trust lost $980,000 in operational expenses between 1993 and 2007. He said he doubted a boost in advertising would have raised the numbers necessary to keep it afloat. The cost of the Ohakea Museum has meant the board had to do further fundraising to expand Wigram Museum, which he called a "proper museum". Hundreds of people showed up on Sunday to look through the Ohakea museum and to look at the assembled military vehicles. Many stayed to watch the eight-minute flying demonstration by Flight Lieutenant Scott Mckenzie in a RNZAF historic flight Harvard. They also stayed to hear the announcement of the formation of a new regional trust to keep military aviation history alive in this area. RNZAF Base Ohakea Group Captain Shaun Clarke said no one is more passionate about the history of the RNZAF than the Air Force. He said the new trust is made up of representatives from Rangitikei, Manawatu and Wanganui district councils, Palmerston North City Council, Vision Manawatu, Destination Manawatu and Friends of the Museum and Ohakea Air Force Base. Group Captain Clarke said the push from the community has been recognised and work has begun on the planning of a new regional aviation centre. Mr Adamson said the centre will feature quality exhibits with a local focus from the national museum in Wigram. Spokesman for the regional trust Chris Torr said the new trust would "fix eyes on the end of the game and bring it to a reality as quick as we can". He is optimistic the aviation heritage centre will be open in three to five years. However, that will not be of any help to Marton resident Margaret Calkin and Bulls resident Glenda Clark, who are losing their jobs. Mrs Calkin said the fixtures of the Crewroom Cafe will be packed up and stored as they are being given to the new trust. She said staff were "utterly betrayed" by the trust board. www.stuff.co.nz/manawatustandard/4060324a20381.html
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Glen T
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 85
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Post by Glen T on May 17, 2007 22:20:35 GMT 12
The front page of the Rangitikei Mail, 17 May. (As above). And how ironic..... First the closure was going to be just before ANZAC day. O so insensitive! Now a week after the Ohakea museum's closure, its the International Day of Museums..............!!! Not sure whether it's laugh or cry time!
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Glen T
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 85
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Post by Glen T on May 18, 2007 21:24:45 GMT 12
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Glen T
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 85
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Post by Glen T on May 19, 2007 21:21:03 GMT 12
The Visitors book will live on - I managed to copy it to the last page before it went 'missing' and will post the remaining pages as soon as I scan them!!!
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Post by phil on May 19, 2007 22:31:10 GMT 12
Did anyone from any Ohakea unit manage to rescue any loaned items before they were spirited away?
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Glen T
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 85
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Post by Glen T on May 20, 2007 10:45:37 GMT 12
I have detailed with Wigram people what belongs to the Armament and Ohakea (Skyhawk) units, that was exhibited there on a loaned basis. Those items have been set aside and I will be signing for them and removing those from the building Monday morning to take back to base units. I explained to David Watmuff about these items and he has documented them for me to sign for. All other material is the Museum Trust Board property, and it has been stated that should the new facility require any of it, it will be made available on a loand basis. Quite an amount of displays will remain here, and therefore a secure storage area will be required to move it all to in the interim. More info later.
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Post by skyhawkdon on May 20, 2007 14:58:52 GMT 12
Why is Wigram in such a rush to dismantle and remove everything? The current building is alarmed and isn't going anywhere - surely it is as good as anywhere to store things until the building IS required by the Air Force to be moved or demolished?? Anyone want to take bets on how long that will be - years I'm picking. The items that are going to Wigram will just end up in storage anyway and once the new Trust has somewhere perminant to set up its display it will all have to be shipped north again! It just doesn't make sense. I think it is a real tragedy that the collection is being split up like this. I know I have said it before, but the Museum Trust Board have a lot to answer for...
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 20, 2007 16:29:39 GMT 12
"Last minute museum mysteries"?
What a lot of nonsense, pure conspiracy theory journalism at it's worst.
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