NTSA Hahndorf  -  Report to National Trust Regional Meeting

9 October 2005, Stangate House, Aldgate

By Anni Luur Fox, Chairperson, Hahndorf Branch.

As always, the Hahndorf Branch continues to add to its trackrecord of lobbying for conservation but we are also heavily involved in our community.  The following list provides an overview of Branch activities.  We had an AGM early this year but our Branch meetings are always sporadic.

• Our Branch was asked to provide support for a group of residents at South Verdun trying to stop a petrol station on the banks of the Onkaparinga River from expanding.  I have been called as an expert witness on this matter before the Environment, Resources and Development Court.

• Tony Finnis has produced a Wiki Website for community use with information concerning the Branch plus history.

• Because Hahndorf has a long history of planning and conservation dramas we decided to nominate a Branch member for the Hahndorf Academy Foundation Board to provide a source of historical knowledge.  Lyndell Davidge was recently voted in as president for a second term and is working extremely hard to ensure the viability of this important building owned by the State.

• Mt Barker District Council is investigating means of financing the Academy as a regional gallery and museum.  Our Branch has provided information to council and has played a role in the $17,000 history panels recently installed in the foyer.

• Our members Bryon Finch, Annette Oien, Margaret and Tony Finnis provide volunteer support for the Academy operations.  My role has been to provide research plus muscle power.  I helped three members of Hahndorf Lions Club demolish the ugly “bomb shelter” that has encroached on the retail gallery since 1990 as the director’s office.

• A part of our strategy of trying to influence the traders in Hahndorf has been to work with the Hahndorf Business and Tourism Assoc.  I took part in three marketing workshops which were very well run by its committee and have produced a new brochure/walking tour map of the Main Street for them giving 10 reasons why Hahndorf is so special.

• Branch members also visit Wicks Reserve on occasion to pull weeds.

• Our Branch has never owned a building which has left us free to lobby for conservation and conduct research.  Reg Butler, in his 12th year of developing a huge database of title searches cross referenced with shipping lists continues to solve family conundrums, would like a Family History Centre to be set up in Hahndorf with his considerable archives as a starting point.  Eventually he will publish CD’s of his information. To ensure that he is not deflected from this important work, I mow his grass for him on occasion.

• The Hahndorf Pioneer Women’s Trail is still in the process of being officially marked but nearing completion at last.  It has taken 25 years to get to this point.

• Lyndell and I ran a torchlight tour of a section of Hahndorf for the Heysen Festival again this year.  Freezing!  Good to see more locals take part.

• We corrected data produced by a Council consultant for the Heritage Survey – 40 hours.