Firstly I apologise for not sending an update to you earlier. We have only recently got access to the computer, then it took some time to get it to work, it having taken quite a tumle. This is attempt six to get this update out, hopefully it will work this time.
87 Victoria St. was badly damaged on February 22, but everyone got out safely. Thanks to The Children's Bookshop an access plan was developed that allowed one person from Te Tai Tamariki into the building for two and a half hours to remove whatever could be salvaged. Rosemary Bonkowski was the brave volunteer who donned the fashionable high viz vest and hard hat. It was a relief to find the Quaky Cat exhibition safely hanging on the walls. Rosemary managed to rescue Quaky Cat, all of our original artwork, the computer, the chairs and our acquisitions catalogue. Unfortunatel y the map drawers, the office furniture and the posters and cut-outs that we have been accumulating from our exhibitions had to be left behind.
The boxes of books that Trevor Agnew donated were retrieved at the last minute with help from the contractors from Smith Cranes who had made access to the building possible. Rosemary is to be applauded for taking on this rescue mission as the inside of the building was very messy and the safety of the staircase compromised.
87 Victoria St. has now been demolished, but this is not the death knell for Te Tai Tamariki. We have stepped back a year in that we are homeless again, but progress had been made in other areas during that year and that has not been disrupted. We still have our collection and community profile and can continue building on this. Currently a couple of opportunities regarding space are being investigated.
The Trust has recently received $25,000 from Scholastic NZ from sales of Quaky Cat. Our thanks to Scholastic for making this possible, but we would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to Gavin Bishop as the donation is actually from him, the money being his share of the royalities from sales of the book.
We have heard that some of you have lost your homes in the earthquake and our thoughts are with you. Stay safe and take care of yourselves.
Watch out for our next bulletin which, I'm sure, will relay exciting information regarding the next era of Te Tai Tamariki's development.
Mary Sangster
Secretary
Te Tai Tamariki: New Zealand Children's Literature Charitable Trust tetaitamariki@gmail.com
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