New museum open at last

Wallingford Home got into the competitive spirit while celebrating the Commonwealth Games.

The Temuka rest home held its own version of the games with all residents getting involved in some way.

The names of the top 30 competing nations were put in a hat and each resident drew out a country name.

Nurse manager Raewyn Mehrtens said residents each had the flag of that country on their door and a map of the world indicated where that country was and who had drawn it.

‘‘We also had a medal table for the top 30 countries which was updated regularly.’’

Residents also took up the challenge to walk the length of the marathon around the home’s hallways during the 10 days of the games.

‘‘Everyone who could participate did a circuit as often as they were able and this was recorded next to their name.’’

The distances were added together to make up the distance. The residents needed to walk 357 laps of the building, which Mehrtens said the residents did with ease achieving 410 laps over the 10 days.

‘‘Several residents rose to the challenge to the extent one walked the circuit 19 times in one day,’’ Mehrtens said.

‘‘This lady in particular has found it has made a big difference to her ability to get up the step into the van.’’

The Wallingford medal ceremony was celebrated with the presentation of gold, silver and bronze medals for the top nations and for the marathon winners. The red ribbon was officially cut to open the Geraldine Museum’s new extension on Friday night – and the fundraisers were back at work on Saturday.

Geraldine Historical Society president Alison Hurley explained the project, with the help of a slide show, to a crowd of more than 100 people.

She mentioned people who had helped along the way, including those who had passed away.

‘‘It was a neat night. We first had a meeting in 2007, so it’s been a long time coming,’’ she said.

‘‘It got to the point where everyone [on the committee] dreaded hearing the question, ‘ When is it going be finished?’.’’

She said it was a testament to the committee members, who had raised $41,000 on their own, with the biggest fundraising drive at any one time raising $3000.

‘‘So it was a lot of work and a long time. I think we did very very well.’’

Fundraising word continues as the museum still needs $6000 for insurance but is funded only $2000 for running costs.