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Death of Julie Allan, First President and long-time Patron of the Dunsandel Historic Society
Description
TitleDeath of Julie Allan, First President and long-time Patron of the Dunsandel Historic Society
DescriptionJulie Allan was the inspiration behind the inaugural meeting held on Monday 10th July 1878, of 28 people from the Dunsandel district interested in forming an historical society.
Mervyn Barnett, who chaired the meeting, stressed the importance of a history group since the centennial of Dunsandel School was to take place in 1979 and a book was to be written on the history of the district.
Members of the Hororata Historical Society inspired the meeting with talk of their activities.
Julie moved that such an organisation be formed to cover Dunsandel and surrounding areas and she was voted first President along with a Secretary and 17 Committee members.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Mervyn Barnett praised the enthusiasm of the elected President and the work she had already put into what he was sure would prove a very worthwhile asset to the district.
Julie was a superb organiser and showed great initiative. She was full of bright ideas which she carried through and many of these ideas were as they say ”outside the square”.
Julie served as President until the 1982 AGM when she became Vice-president for a year.
Under Julie’s leadership, much progress was made in those four years. A constitution was written and the group become an incorporated society.
Experts interested in history were invited to speak at public meetings throughout the year. Mr Loach, from the Historic Places Trust, was the first speaker, two months after the DHS was formed. Others followed.
The DHS displayed photographs and family trees and was involved in the procession at the Dunsandel School Centennial.
A bus trip to an historic site in Canterbury was arranged annually. These included an archeological trip and a trip to the Sumner-Redcliffs and Lyttleton Museums.
Storage was needed for books and historical information and items and a locked cupboard was organised in the hall for books and a special asbestos-lined cupboard constructed and placed in the committee room of the hall for other items.
Some years later when the Methodist Church (Gift Shop) was purchased, Julie was the person who put most enthusiasm into forming a small museum.
The DHS needed funds for its activities and Julie with her drawing skills drew pictures of older homes in the district for sale at the Church Shop. Also Julie, with her horticultural interests, was the inspiration behind plant sales. A large barrow was constructed and filled with plants for sale at places where the public gathered. This idea provided funds for many years.
Julie’s greatest achievement was the “Landmarks” exhibition in 1982 where she inspired and organised many groups to provide an extremely well-patronised historical display that filled the Dunsandel Hall.
Julie then served in a very active role on the committee for many years until her illness set in.
She was made Patron of the Society in 2003 in recognition of the tremendous contribution she made to the DHS.
One legacy, which is of immense value today, is the collection of approximately 700 photographs of early Dunsandel district she and Gordon Happer gathered in the early days of the DHS. So many of these photos would not be able to be collected today, as families have moved from the district.
Mike Noonan
Dunsandel Historic Society
DescriptionJulie Allan was the inspiration behind the inaugural meeting held on Monday 10th July 1878, of 28 people from the Dunsandel district interested in forming an historical society. Mervyn Barnett, who chaired the meeting, stressed the importance of a history group since the centennial of Dunsandel School was to take place in 1979 and a book was to be written on the history of the district.
Members of the Hororata Historical Society inspired the meeting with talk of their activities.
Julie moved that such an organisation be formed to cover Dunsandel and surrounding areas and she was voted first President along with a Secretary and 17 Committee members.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Mervyn Barnett praised the enthusiasm of the elected President and the work she had already put into what he was sure would prove a very worthwhile asset to the district.
Julie was a superb organiser and showed great initiative. She was full of bright ideas which she carried through and many of these ideas were as they say ”outside the square”.
Julie served as President until the 1982 AGM when she became Vice-president for a year.
Under Julie’s leadership, much progress was made in those four years. A constitution was written and the group become an incorporated society.
Experts interested in history were invited to speak at public meetings throughout the year. Mr Loach, from the Historic Places Trust, was the first speaker, two months after the DHS was formed. Others followed.
The DHS displayed photographs and family trees and was involved in the procession at the Dunsandel School Centennial.
A bus trip to an historic site in Canterbury was arranged annually. These included an archeological trip and a trip to the Sumner-Redcliffs and Lyttleton Museums.
Storage was needed for books and historical information and items and a locked cupboard was organised in the hall for books and a special asbestos-lined cupboard constructed and placed in the committee room of the hall for other items.
Some years later when the Methodist Church (Gift Shop) was purchased, Julie was the person who put most enthusiasm into forming a small museum.
The DHS needed funds for its activities and Julie with her drawing skills drew pictures of older homes in the district for sale at the Church Shop. Also Julie, with her horticultural interests, was the inspiration behind plant sales. A large barrow was constructed and filled with plants for sale at places where the public gathered. This idea provided funds for many years.
Julie’s greatest achievement was the “Landmarks” exhibition in 1982 where she inspired and organised many groups to provide an extremely well-patronised historical display that filled the Dunsandel Hall.
Julie then served in a very active role on the committee for many years until her illness set in.
She was made Patron of the Society in 2003 in recognition of the tremendous contribution she made to the DHS.
One legacy, which is of immense value today, is the collection of approximately 700 photographs of early Dunsandel district she and Gordon Happer gathered in the early days of the DHS. So many of these photos would not be able to be collected today, as families have moved from the district.
Mike Noonan
Dunsandel Historic Society
Connections
OrganisationDunsandel Historic Society
Attribution
Researched ByMike NoonanWritten ByMike Noonan
Written ByMike NoonanDeath of Julie Allan, First President and long-time Patron of the Dunsandel Historic Society. Selwyn Stories, accessed 15/06/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/5252