Discover and Share your First World War Stories

Discover and Share your First World War Storiesring in your Great War treasures and meet with experts from across the country who can identify them.

Visit the new Canterbury Stories exhibition and discover more about Canterbury’s part in the First World War. Tell us your family story and it could be added to the exhibition.

On Sunday 12 October 2014, a free public event will be held at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand, where members of the Canterbury community will be invited to bring along their personal stories and artefacts relating to the First World War. Staff from each of the supporting institutions will be on hand to document the material, as well as provide expertise in family history research and object identification and interpretation. People can discuss the possibility of lending their material for digitising or display with any of the participating organisations.

The stories and artefacts contributed by the public will be used to provide the content for the “Canterbury Stories” exhibition hosted by the Air Force Museum of New Zealand.

The Canterbury 100 team are searching for personal stories, photographs, diaries and papers, and artefacts from people in Canterbury relating to the First World War, to present in this regional exhibition.

Canterbury 100 is a collaborative project, co–ordinated by the region’s major cultural and heritage institutions, telling the story and experiences of Canterbury people during the First World War.

Canterbury Stories Exhibition and Event

Canterbury Stories: Remembering the First World War

The Wizard of New Zealand, and members of the McCaw and Westenra families to the Canterbury Stories exhibition at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand.

As part of the “Canterbury 100” collaborative project, a special exhibition titled “Canterbury Stories: Remembering the First World War” opened at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand on 12 September 2014.

“Canterbury Stories” will provide a Canterbury-focused insight into the First World War through the personal stories of those who experienced it – not only the soldiers and nurses on the front line but also the men, women and children who remained at home. Several well-known local celebrities have contributed their own family war stories to the exhibition, and these will be joined over time by many more personal accounts contributed by the people of Canterbury. It is intended that this exhibition will be refreshed and added to throughout the course of the First World War Centenary and will be adapted to a more localised format for touring around communities throughout the region.

“Canterbury Stories” aims to connect Cantabrians with their First World War heritage by allowing them to share their family’s wartime experiences through stories, photographs and objects. At the conclusion of the Centenary commemorations, these stories will be archived to serve as a permanent memorial.

Discover and Share your First World War Stories

Discover and Share your First World War Stories

Bring in your Great War treasures and meet with experts from across the country who can identify them.

Visit the new Canterbury Stories exhibition and discover more about Canterbury’s part in the First World War. Tell us your family story and it could be added to the exhibition.

On Sunday 12 October 2014, a free public event will be held at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand, where members of the Canterbury community will be invited to bring along their personal stories and artefacts relating to the First World War. Staff from each of the supporting institutions will be on hand to document the material, as well as provide expertise in family history research and object identification and interpretation. People can discuss the possibility of lending their material for digitising or display with any of the participating organisations.

The stories and artefacts contributed by the public will be used to provide the content for the “Canterbury Stories” exhibition hosted by the Air Force Museum of New Zealand.

The Canterbury 100 team are searching for personal stories, photographs, diaries and papers, and artefacts from people in Canterbury relating to the First World War, to present in this regional exhibition.

Canterbury 100 is a collaborative project, co–ordinated by the region’s major cultural and heritage institutions, telling the story and experiences of Canterbury people during the First World War.

New Zealand and the First World War – Talks by Jock Phillips and Glyn Harper

On Friday 9 May, renowned speakers Prof Glyn Harper and Dr Jock Phillips will speak on New Zealand and the First World War. The talks are a free public event from 5.30pm-7.15pm in the Bird Hall at Canterbury Museum on Rolleston Avenue.

Canterbury 100 – Help tell the story of Canterbury 1914-1918

Canterbury 100 is a collaborative project, co-ordinated by the region’s major cultural and heritage institutions, telling the story and experiences of Canterbury people during the First World War.

On Sunday 12 October 2014, a free community event will be held at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand, where members of the public will be invited to bring along personal stories and artefacts relating to Cantabrians during World War I; specifically in the period leading up to the Gallipoli campaign of 1915.  Staff from each of the supporting institutions will be on hand to document the material, as well as provide expertise in family history research and object identification and interpretation.  People can discuss the possibility of gifting their material with any of the participating organisations or can arrange to lend it for digitising or display.

The stories and artefacts contributed by the public will provide the content for a community-based exhibition, opening in April 2015, which will tell the story of “Canterbury’s Road to Gallipoli” (title to be confirmed).  The exhibition will then be adapted to a more localised format for touring around communities throughout Canterbury.

It is intended that this will be repeated in the period leading up to the Centenary of the Battle of Passchendaele in 2017, and again to mark the Armistice and Peace celebrations in 2018.  At the conclusion of the WWI Centenary commemorations, the stories will be archived to serve as a permanent memorial to the people of Canterbury who experienced the First World War.

Do you have a story to contribute to the Canterbury 100 project?

We are looking for personal stories, photographs, diaries and papers, and artefacts relating to Cantabrians in World War One, from soldiers and nurses on the front line to the men, women and children who remained on the “Home Front” in New Zealand.

To tell us your story, or for more information about how you can get involved, please visit the Canterbury 100 project site or contact canterbury100@airforcemuseum.co.nz

Organisations supporting Canterbury 100:

• Air Force Museum of New Zealand
• Canterbury Museum
• Christchurch City Libraries
• South Canterbury Museum
• Te Runanga O Ngai Tahu
• University of Canterbury
• New Zealand Micrographic Services

For information about other inititives around the country see ww100.govt.nz.

Cantage event, 20 September 2013

Cantage event, Friday 20 September 2013, 2.00 – 4.00 pm

Spring is a great time to  re-connect with like-minded heritage folk in Canterbury. With 2014 fast approaching we would like to give you the opportunity to share your plans for celebrating the centenary of World War One. If you haven’t yet made plans don’t worry, you are not alone! This is the perfect opportunity to get inspired or to find opportunities to collaborate with others – or just to keep yourself in the loop. Whether you have an idea you’d like to get others on board with or are needing a bit of support, your colleagues in the heritage community are always keen to listen.

Furthermore we would love to give you all a chance to take a tour of the Cultural Collections Recovery Centre based in the Air Force Museum of New Zealand, Wigram. This is a local hub for those with collections or facilities affected by earthquakes. Recovery Centre Intern Moya Sherriff will be on hand for you to chat to – a great opportunity if you think your organisation might benefit from some assistance.

PROGRAMME:

1.50pm: Meet in the foyer, Air Force Museum, 45 Harvard Avenue, Wigram, Christchurch
2.00pm: World War One Centenary sharing session and discussion
3.00pm: Recovery Centre tour by Moya Sherriff
3.30pm: Refreshments, catch up and chat with colleagues

Note: Please RSVP to Jo Condon at jo.condon@micrographics.co.nz

This is a free event but we would like to know numbers in advance as refreshments will be provided courtesy of the Air Force Museum and New Zealand Micrographic Services.

Cantage is an informal group of people involved in heritage organisations such as libraries, archives, museums and local government and does not have a ‘membership’ as such. Please feel free to invite others in the heritage community who may be interested in coming to this event.

Kind regards
The Cantage Committee