Founders Park

As a thank you for making the ANZAC Poppies, Debbie Daniel Smith took us to Founders Park to visit The Maritime Museum. On a wet, windy and very cold Friday, we met up with Debbie, Mike Whittle and Gordon Murphy in the Windmill at Founders. Mike and Gordon are both experts on Maritime history of Nelson. Gordon is an old boy of Auckland Point School and his uncle donated the collection of ships in bottles to the Museum. He also told us about life at Auckland Point School during WW2. Apparently there were air raid shelters in the middle of our playground (where the netball court is now). Mike drew the children's attention to a figure head high up on the wall, and told us the amazing story of the Gibbs family. You could have heard a pin drop, as he wove this tale of shipwreck, despair and survival. After a visit to the Museum, we were treated to morning tea, prepared by the restaurant. So we all sat around a roaring gas heater in the Grainary and munched on cheese scones with lashing of jam and whipped cream!