Lynley Fowler, former librarian and now chair of the Wanganui Founders' Society, says the society is not as exclusive as many people seem to think.
She has been a member since 2002.
"Working in the Heritage Room, I was always into history and I knew about the Founders' Society. My father, although
he didn't belong, wrote a couple of articles for their annual book." The book is no longer published.
To be a full member, you need to have had an ancestor arrive in New Zealand before December 31, 1865.
"The Wanganui Founders' Society started in 1945. When it first started [nationally] in 1939, they had members from all over the country, not just Wellington, where it started. So when Mr EJ Burke, who had been a committee member of the Wairarapa branch, transferred to Wanganui, he was asked by the Dominion Council to start a branch here. That was in 1945.
"They realised that the early founders, the ones who did the work [to establish colonial New Zealand] were special people. They were intrepid people. So, in 1939 it was decided they were worth honouring."
Originally, you were considered a founder if you arrived within 10 years of the first immigrant ship in that province. Eventually it was decided to use a standard, universal date — December 31, 1865, to allow for that fact that ships arrived in each province on different dates — Wellington, 1841; Canterbury, 1840 etc.
"That includes all Maori as well as the whalers and sealers and missionaries who were here before 1840. But you don't have to have had an ancestor who arrived here before 1865."
If your spouse's ancestors arrived before 1865, you can join as an associate member.
"But, if you don't have anyone you can tag on to, you can join as a 'friend', but you don't get voting rights. So we're not a closed society."
To be a full member you have to be able to prove how and when your ancestor arrived.
The society's membership is strong with younger members joining.
"People join because they're interested in history, proud of their ancestors …"
Lynley has three ancestors who arrived in New Zealand before 1865.
The Founders' Society used to produce a newsletter. No longer, sadly, but the Alexander Research and Heritage Library has back issues.
The society has planned projects in the past, including rebuilding the time ball station by the Durie Hill Memorial Tower; it did not come to pass. They did, however, manage a stained glass window in the council chamber, as part of the Whanganui Story.
