Peninsula foresight and dedication
THOSE members of the Dunedin Jaycee Chapter whose gumption, vision and drive led to the formation of the Otago Peninsula Trust 50 years ago should be so proud of what has been achieved.
As the story is now explained, Dunedin was struggling in the mid1960s and more than 200 leading citizens were surveyed and ideas discussed to reinvigorate the economy. Education, heritage and tourism were identified as main strengths.
Largescale manufacturing was on its steady decline and Dunedin was losing more ground as a financial centre. Head offices were on the move north, and Dunedin’s financial clout and influence was waning.
Prof Ron Lister, a geographer who in his years in Dunedin was forward thinking and respected, pointed to the Otago Peninsula — its wildlife, heritage, scenery. The Jaycees proceeded to form the trust, with its emphasis on protecting the peninsula and its wildlife and on attracting visitors. It is now described as New Zealand’s first private charitable conservation trust.
Over the course of 50 years there have been many challenges (including fires), and energy and enthusiasm surged and ebbed. Nonetheless, the list of achievements is remarkable.
Most astonishing to those origi nal trustees, chaired at first by the indefatigable Gordon Parry, must be what has happened at Taiaroa Head. The Royal Albatross colony is now not just a place where the world’s only mainland breeding colony of the birds is sited and where birds are nurtured, but also a premier national tourist attraction, drawing more than 100,000 visitors a year.
It is supplemented by the historic Fort Taiaroa (including the Armstrong disappearing gun) and the little blue penguin col ony. Like much of the peninsula the scenery is spectacular and birdlife and seals are abundant.
Glenfalloch Garden was saved and developed and new facilities built. It is at its peak at this time of year. But while Taiaroa Head remains high in Dunedin residents’ consciousness, Glenfalloch sometimes, and unfairly, is taken for granted. Fletcher House is another specific attraction, and the trust has been involved in dozens of other information, heritage and conservation projects.
Service clubs, including Rotary, have pitched in and uncountable thousands of hours of voluntary labour contributed. Regular fundraising has been required and setbacks overcome.
Conservation and education work, notably for school pupils, continues, and the opening of a ‘‘city presence’’ in Lower Stuart St will help with the profile of the trust and its premier attractions.
Remarkable, too, has been the service of Bill Dawson, last night awarded the Dunedin heritage Bluestone Award. Apart from his other extensive Dunedin interests, he has been on the trust board for all of those 50 years.
The peninsula is among the vital foundations of Dunedin as an attractive and interesting city. It is big (often surprising visitors and locals with how extensive it is) and it is beautiful.
Dunedin is fortunate to have, and to share, its many treasures. And the city has been fortunate its potential was seen all those years ago and that the potential was acted on for 50 years by the many trustees, staff, volunteers and supporters. They can be proud of their roles as developers and custodians of this special part of the city.