Appointment to trust

THE newest member of the board for the Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust says she has a ‘‘profound respect’’ for heritage buildings.

Oamaru Opera House director Frances McElhinney was nominated this week by the Waitaki District Council to take a councilappointed position on the prominent Oamaru heritage body and historic Harbour St landlord.

‘‘The buildings are fascinating, they’re complex and they’re challenging,’’ Mrs McElhinney said.

The opera house, formerly the Oamaru town hall, is listed as a Heritage New Zealand historic place Category 1, as is Mrs McElhinney’s previous place of employment, the Nelson School of Music.

‘‘Our heritage requires sensitive handling to ensure that we are diligent in its preservation and I enjoy the challenge of heritage,’’ she said. ‘‘There are never any easy or quick fixes and always a wealth of learning along the way.’’

Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher stood down from his role as trustee after taking a role on the trust in 2016.

Before that, Cr Peter Garvan held the role for nine years.

This week, Mrs McElhinney was also appointed to the board of Performing Arts Network of New Zealand.

She had held the role before moving to Oamaru several years ago and stepped back at that time to focus on her new role.

Mrs McElhinney called the organisation a ‘‘support network for both practitioners and venues’’.

She said she would continue to ‘‘shamelessly’’ promote Oamaru’s 550seat ‘‘intimate’’ opera house at the national level.