Anti-apartheid demonstrators outside the NZI (NZ Insurance) building in Palmerston North.

Anti-apartheid demonstrators outside the NZI (NZ Insurance) building in Palmerston North.

Introduction:
"Rotary was established by Paul Harris in 1905 to serve communities and provide fellowship and enjoyment to members. On 29 May 1924 a group of businessmen met to establish a Rotary Club to serve the Palmerston North community.

Over the 100 years, the Rotary Club of Palmerston North has been very active and this history
records what happened and what was achieved. You will see that the first 75 years was recorded by Ian Malcolm and Arthur Hall. The last 25 years has been compiled by Chris Klein and Stephen Parsons. Both records have been combined to bring the 100-year history together.

The international success of Rotary has come from established Clubs helping other Clubs to form and the Palmerston North Club has been active in supporting six other Clubs to become
established in the region. These Clubs have in turn spawned other Clubs.

It is impossible to list all the projects and events that the Club has supported. They range from
helping individuals in need, to building such major facilities as student accommodation at Massey University, a retirement village for the elderly, an outdoor education lodge, and a classroom in Samoa. The Club has helped a community in Northern India and provided medical supplies to the Pacific Islands. Funds are provided each year toward the eradication of polio.

The Club has a focus on youth through an annual programme involving a youth music festival,
sponsoring upcoming musicians, a circus for disadvantaged children, speech and essay competitions for schools, dictionaries to primary pupils in poorer areas, sponsoring students to
business week, and a science and technology forum. Youth focussed events and community clubs and individuals are occasionally supported for the development of young people.

For 100 years the members of the Rotary Club of Palmerston North have lived up to the ideals of “service above self”. This brief history provides an insight into the people, what they have achieved and the enjoyment and satisfaction they have derived from serving the community.

The current members look forward to setting the course for the next 100 years."

Text by 2025 Club President Dave Gaynor.

This copy of John Tiffin Stewart's handwritten manuscript was typed in 1967 by Ian Matheson, who has annotated each paragraph with the page numbers of T. Lindsay Buick's Old Manawatu (1903) containing information derived from Stewart's manuscript.

A drawing by J T Stewart who was the District Engineer of the Public Works Department. Drawing shows construction of the road through the Manawatu Gorge. Entitled "Manawatu Gorge. Commencement of Road - looking up Gorge from westward", and is signed J T S May 1871. The drawing is in pencil and water colour. Drawn on paper measuring 19.5 x 17 cm, and held in an unvarnished wooden frame.

A drawing by J T Stewart who was the District Engineer of the Public Works Department. Drawing shows two carved palisade posts in old pa, in bush at Wairarapa. Entitled "Figure in old Pa Wairarapa 1862". The drawing is in pencil and water colour. Drawn on paper measuring 24 x 16.5 cm, held in oval matt board and unvarnished wooden frame.

A drawing by J T Stewart who was the District Engineer of the Public Works Department. Sketch shows the construction of the Upper Gorge Bridge (at Woodville end) over the Manawatu River. Entitled "Road Bridge Manawatu Gorge building 1874" and signed by J T Stewart. The drawing is in pencil and water colour. Drawn on paper measuring 26 x 17.5 cm, and held in narrow black frame.

A drawing by J T Stewart who was the District Engineer of the Public Works Department. Drawing shows the gorge road, looking westward towards Ashhurst. Entitled "Gorge Road Manawatu 1874". The drawing is in pencil and water colour. Drawn on paper measuring 25 x 17.5 cm, and held in narrow wooden frame.

Map that shows ownership of farm land, covering the area from approximately Mangaweka to Himatangi Beach in the North Island. The index lists the farms according to the owner's name.

Produced by John Read Agricultural Consultancy Ltd, Palmerston North.

As compiled by Aerial Surveys Limited.

Maps that show ownership of farm land, covering the area from approximately Mangaweka to Levin in the North Island. The index lists the farms according to the owner's name.

Produced by Centrepoint Theatre

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In 1951 and early 1952 Jack and Beverley Holland were young teachers at the Pahīatua Camp. They were present during the period that the Displaced Persons (DPs) arrived from the three 1951 sailings of the International Refugee Organisation (IRO) ship the Goya. Displaced Persons also arrived at the camp in early 1952. Most of these had sailed to Australia on IRO registered ships and then travelled onwards to New Zealand by ship or in some cases, by plane. The people were displaced from their homes and countries by World War Two and the civil wars that followed that. They came from Central, Eastern and Southern Europe. Up to 5000 Displaced persons settled in New Zealand.

The DPs came to New Zealand under a skilled migrant programme, not a humanitarian aid programme. The purpose was to aid New Zealand’s economic growth following World War Two. At that time New Zealand had an assimilation policy. The plan was that the DPs would spend 6 weeks in the camp to learn English and New Zealand law and customs, and then be placed in jobs. There was some allowance for those difficult to place in jobs, to stay on in the camp for up to one year. Women with children were often in this category. Many refuges left for jobs in remote places in New Zealand such as forestry or hydroelectric dam construction with a very rudimentary knowledge of English. It was up to them to continue their English learning if they were able.

The Holland family have kindly allowed for digital copies of the photograph album and letters Jack and Beverley wrote to their parents describing camp life to be deposited on Manawatū Heritage.

A description of life in the Pahīatua Camp for the DPs can be found in the book "Untold Stories – World War Two Displaced Persons who settled in Palmerston North."

Palmy Unleashed, Pineapple Studios and One Night Only organised for performers from Palmerston North to play for passersby in this street festival.

This image was taken for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 13 February, 1959. "The arrival of the teenage idol (Johnny Devlin) in Palmerston North this morning caused considerable interest. He was driven from the railway station around the Square in "Moriarty" an ancient car owned by nurses at the Palmerston North Hospital."

A ‘typical scratch band’ of the war period, being scratched together from Linton Army Camp personnel who were able and available to play. 'Pot Wallopers' was the term given to Army staff on pot cleaning duties.

A Grand Wireless Concert, broadcast from Auckland, was held in the Opera House, Palmerston North, 1 December 1923. It was arranged by St Paul's Wesley Guild. Ticket no.410, for the Back Stalls at a cost of 2/-.

Lyrics for a song possibly created for the W.W.S.A. To march to.

Programme for 1st annual jazz festival presented by the Manawatū Musicians and Entertainers Club, held on Labour Weekend, 1968. The Manawatū Musicians and Entertainers Club, later became the Manawatū Jazz Club.

IPU Drum Team

This image was taken for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 28 November 1958: "These five boys, students of the New Zealand Correspondence School's four-week course at Massey College, literally romped through a programme at their break-up concert last night. Their drums and music stands were made by them in the college workshop. The boys are (from left to right): Peter Tuwhangai (King Country), Desmond Savage (Hikuai), Lee Smith, Peter Boner (Raglan), and Ross McCallum (Rotoroa Island)."

Manawatu Photorama was published between 1959 and 1964 by Frank Goldingham. It featured social occasions, sports events and city events and perfomances photographed both by Mr. Goldingham and contributing photographers.

Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. The history of radio listening since 1924. By the 1930's, it is estimated that more than half of New Zealand homes had a radio. Tuning in to the 'wireless' became a communal activity, bringing people together at the same time of day.

Mina McKenzie, Museum Director, with cases and drawers of letterpress type, on display at the Manawatu Museum Printery. The printery is no longer in operation.

Mounted print take by G.F. Framjee titled, "Palmerston North City Corporation Salaried Staff - 1953, not all present".

According to a separate backing page, pictured are:

BACK ROW (left to right): Mr R.H. (Reg) CRUTCHLEY (Bus Inspector); Mr W.L. (Bill) CUTTEN (Electrical Inspector); Mr W.G.B. (Bart) STEVENS (Dam construction superintendent); Mr E.A. (Alex) HUTT (Engineering Assistant); Brian Mason (Engineering Assistant); Mr J.A. (Arch) BAMBERY (Foreman mechanic).

2nd ROW FROM BACK (left to right): Mr J.S. (Jack) LAWRENCE (Works Foreman); Mr C.A. (Charlie) MARSHALL (sanitary inspector); Mr H.C. (Herb) FREEMAN (Clerk, Engineers Department); Mr F.A. (Fred) ROSVALL (Gas Foreman), Mr A.M. (Arthur) MATTHEWS (cashier); C.G. (George) PERRIN (clerk); Mr T.J. (Trevor) KENDRICK (clerk), Mr J.C. (Jack) LEWIS (clerk); Mr R.W. (Dick) BALL (Electrical Inspector); Mr A. (Andy) KELT (Waterworks overseer); Mr J. (Jack) LEARMONTH (gasworks superintendent), Mr D. (Dave) CALDWELL (Engineering assistant); Mr L.G. (Laurie) HASSAN (seniar staff engineer).

3rd ROW FROM BACK (left to right): Mr J.B. (Jim) THOMPSON (assistant accountant); Mr L.G. (Lloyd) HARDIE (clerk); Mr A.G. (Allen) KARTON (meter reader), Mr H.S. (Sid) HARROD (meter reader); Mrs M.L. (Lyn) YOUNG (typist); Miss Beryl BROUGHAM (typist); Miss Eileen BENJAMIN (typist), Miss Ann KEENAN (clerk); Miss J.A. (Judith) RENNIE (clerk); Miss C.H. (Carol) JENKINSON (clerk); Mr C.K. (Ken) BYLES (electrical inspector), Miss M.J. (Marie) EISING (clerk); Mr C.A. (Charlie) WAUGH (clerk); Mr O.P. (Philip) PERSSON (clerk, Engineers Department); (electrical inspector) Mr J.O. (John) JORDAN (water inspector).

FRONT ROW (left to right): Mr R.N. (Paddy) THOMAS (Assistant Electrical Engineer); Mr A. (Alan) PEARSON (City Building inspector) Mr A.W. (Alex) CHAPMAN (Transit Controller); Mr R.C. (Claude) HANDS (Electrical Engineer); Mr A.M.P. (Peter) HALL (City Treasurer); Mr J.R. (Jim) HARDIE (Town Clerk); Mr G. (Geoff) TREMAINE (Mayor); Mr G.F. (George) HOGG (City Engineer); Mr D.C. (Dugald) MacKenzie (Curator of Reserves); Mr A.J. ("Gas") McKenzie (Gas Manager); Mr E.W. (Ted) PERSSON (assistant City Engineer); Mr G.H. (George) RICHARDSON (accountant); Mr J.E. (Jim) GAVEY (Rates Clerk); Mr A.D. (Dave) HEGGIE (Reserves foreman).

This image was taken for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 26 December 1958: "The nurses of the Palmerston North Hospital entertained the patients by singing carols through the wards on Christmas Eve. Here is a scene of the nurses singing in a ward."

Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. The founding of Manawatū Gay Rights Association (MaGRA) in 1977 occurred during a period of time when queer (LGBTQIA+) experiences were mostly absent from the media and mocked by many in the community. Whilst a lot of progress has been made over the past 50 years changing laws and attitudes to protect sexual orientation as a human right, individuals lives and experiences are rarely recorded. Manawatū Lesbian and Gay Rights Association (MaLGRA) in 2024 is embarking on an oral history project to record the history and experiences of Manawatū's Rainbow community.

The Awapuni Memorial at the Palmerston North Racecourse was rededicated after its refurbishment, on 20 October 2016. The memorial was originally erected at the Race course in 1929, to commemorate the New Zealand Medical Corps, who trained there ahead of deployment in World War One. After falling into disrepair a project to restore it began in 2014, at a cost of $200,000. The Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps established the project team, with Palmerston North City Council and Awapuni Racing Centre. On parade  is the RNZAMC Banner.   Banners are presented to units or corps by Royal or Vice-Regal personages. The RNZAMC Banner was presented by the Colonel-in-Chief, Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps, His Royal Highness, the Duke of Gloucester, Prince Richard, KG, GCVO.  It is known as The Prince Richard Banner.  The Prince Richard Banner was received into the RNZAMC and consecrated on the 20 May 2010 at Linton Camp, Palmerston North.

An group of unidentified nurses. It appears to be a group of registered nurses and others with a red cross on their headwear.

This 18 " sewer was laid on a ferro concrete support as the land was swamp 14 foot deep. Samuel Jickell, also the photographer, was Borough Engineer for the Palmerston North Borough Council 1904-1919.

At harvesters. Formula 44. Star factory. Free. Wed Nov 10th. 10pm-late. Part of a collection of posters that were displayed at The Stomach, Lombard Street, venue for Creative Sounds Society Incorporated.

Dynamite Groove. Saturdays at The Stomach 76 Lombard Street. September 21 K-Tel Dancers, Sausage Roll, The Fl1ckering. September 28 Damask, Vampyr, Exquisite Corpse. October 12 Rake, Wild Honey Pie, Silent Scream. October 26 Lung, Feast of Stephens, Noddy on the Cross. Part of a collection of posters that were displayed at The Stomach, Lombard Street, venue for Creative Sounds Society Incorporated.