New head steps up

Carole Parker, new chairwoman of the Testern Bay Museum Trust. Photo/Chris Steel

The Western Bay Museum's Trust welcomes Carole Parker as a new trustee and new chairwoman.

She takes up the role from Nolene De Luca who tendered her resignation in May for personal reasons, but will remain a trustee.

The Western Bay Museum requires a strong, dedicated and highly focused trust to drive the governance aspects of the museum. Carole has been working closely with trust business for some time and assisting museum manager/curator Paula Gaelic with sourcing funding options and preparing application forms. Carole and Paula agree that exciting times lay ahead with the official museum opening planned for August 26.

Carole is enthusiastic about the Western Bay Museum and excited to be working with the Paula and the trustees and the many dedicated volunteers to establish and run the museum.

"So much outstanding work has been done to get the museum to the point where the opening day is in sight."

She says the museum will offer people a unique and exciting interactive experience when they visit and it will certainly change people's perspectives on museums.

"The old fire station is an amazing venue and its size has created an opportunity to make the museum something special.

I feel sure people will want to return time and again to check out what's happening within the museum walls and outside."

Carole has a Diploma in Business Studies with endorsement in Disputes Resolution (Mediation) from Massey University (1996). She currently works for Tauranga City Council part-time and previously worked for Rotorua District Council as a project manager for the strategy team and also had responsibility for distribution of several of council grants.

Prior to that she was at Taupo District Council for 18 years as community development manager, leading a team of 12 which included the community development team, the after school and holiday programmes and the climbing wall.

Carole was appointed as a Justice of the Peace in 1990 and has been a marriage celebrant for many years.

Her executive involvement in a wide range of community groups over the years has included the Taupo Neighbourhood Support, Age Concern Taupo, Taupo Council of Social Services, Taupo Youth Arts Trust, trustee on Taupo Museum Trust prior to it transferring to Taupo District Council, Lottery Youth Regional Distribution Committee and COGS - Department of Internal Affairs 2005-2011 distributing funding to groups for the provision of social services in Tongariro district.