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| Nga Taonga , Jane Paul, Wallace Drummond, Craig Drummond, Pouhere Taonga , Jonathan Howard and Hannah Drummond at thefilm screenings held at Drummond's historic woolshed at Five Rivers 17 February. |
The rain pattering on the roof along with the odd leak, the smell of damp wool, the dimly lit woolshed and about 80 mainly rural people in farming attire, all created a real life atmosphere for a film series of excerpts from historic footage as part of the Travelling Film Show at Drummond's woolshed last Wednesday night.
Nga Taonga Sound and Vision along with Heritage New Zealand, Pouhere Taonga brought the programme to four venues in the South Island, including Five Rivers' woolshed. Wallace Drummond explained that the Five Rivers run was taken up in 1857 with the woolshed built soon after and restored by him about three years ago.
Heritage New Zealand, Pouhere Taonga Otago/ Southland Area Manager, Jonathan Howard said with the best turn out to date, the fantastic significant historic agricultural venue and the partnership with the Drummond family, it meant people would remember the event, the venue and hospitality for years to come.
"People can see the effort the Drummonds have gone to, to preserve and maintain the woolshed and homestead," he said. " Nga Taonga and Heritage NZ both want to tell stories, honour heritage and use some of Nga Taonga's large collection of about 7000 titles to do this."
Memories were evoked by excerpts covering old methods of sheep dipping, blade shearing, mustering, sheep dog trials, wool and its uses, fruit growing in Central Otago and various methods of trying to eradicate rabbits with 1300 the largest number killed in one rabbit drive. The audience had a good chuckle at Footrot Flats and Fred Dagg musing over daylight saving. Southland featured with Invercargill A & P Show, packing and exporting frozen rabbit meat from Bluff alongside Peter and Elsie Lyons from Alexandra explaining how they ran 21 shearing gangs.
Garston farmer Jenny Tayler said she found the atmosphere really built up to what was coming through being in an historic place related to agricultural production.
" It was all very nostalgic for me, covering aspects of farming I remembered from my childhood as well as from stories my father and grandfather told me ," she said." The supportive crowd appreciated the professional presentation, on a large screen with perfect sound, the fact they had brought it around to the country people and I hope they do it again."
