Adrian Holland doesn't want his neighbourhood to miss out now that the Government has cut adult community education funds. Sophie Huber reports.
A blue book on his coffee table sums up the passion of Kohimarama resident Adrian
Holland. It's titled Delving into the Past of Auckland's Eastern Suburbs.
The 42-year-old was to have taught a family history course at Edgewater Community Education Centre but May's budget cuts to adult community education put a stop to that.
Mr Holland says he doesn't want his community hampered by the cuts and he would like to volunteer some of his time to foster people's interest in history.
He has the skills to tutor and administer a course - all he needs now is a free venue in which to run it.
"I'd like to give them a sense of their own local history and their family history,'' he says, ``and I would like to provide a structure in which people feel comfortable amongst themselves.
"From talking to locals I get the feeling there's a certain amount of interest. It does require a venue and I am interested to know of others who would have resources to contribute.''
He says Kohimarama is a suburb with a history and he suspects there are interesting stories to be told out there. He hopes the course would also provide somewhere for locals to meet one another.
"Everybody is interesting, and I like the idea of people talking about themselves. Lots of people are humble or hesitant, but it's not true when people say they have no story.''
Kate Armstrong, the reference librarian at St Heliers Bay Library, agrees there is healthy interest in the area. The library's history collection has a substantial local section, which is added to all the time. "We have a rich history in the area and lots of people are very interested in it.''
Mr Holland credits his father with firing his interest. "My dad had a folder for each of us kids in his bottom drawer and each time something happened it went in. It's really nice to be able to remember. If he hadn't done it, it would all be gone.''
Having worked as a teacher, a journalist and a postman, among other jobs, Mr Holland is re-establishing a business he tested in Wellington called Memories to Memoirs. He helps
people create a record of their family histories and says his experience has set him up to run a class on the subject.
"I would like to get a genealogist on board and I'd also like to see participants end the course with something concrete, like a family or local history, or at least the foundation
of one.''
Robyn Williams, a volunteer at the New Zealand Society of Genealogists' Family Research Centre in Panmure, believes there is great value in being curious about your family's past.
"You all want to know where you come from and it's important that gets preserved for generations to come,'' she says, adding that enthusiastic volunteers often give talks to community groups and clubs and they could probably contribute to Mr Holland's project in some way.
The St Heliers Presbyterian Church runs the main community centre in the area and its operations manager, Gill Blower, says it is well used. Although the church is always willing to help new groups it is having trouble finding space.
People interested in participating in free family history classes, or who have a suitable
venue, can email Adrian Holland at: adrian.h@actrix.co.nz