CHAIRPERSON'S ANNUAL REPORT
2019
It is my pleasure to present my
annual report for the year ending March 31, 2019.
Twelve
months ago, when penning my final (as I thought) report I was
not anticipating having to write further one for 2019
That
was not to be as I was press-ganged into serving another year
Bereavements
It has been a year of
sad losses from among our older “Friends of Heritage Park”
April was a bad month as we fare-welled both John White from
Waipukurau and Robert Young from Whanganui.
John was a
passionate supporter of the Park and served one term as trustee
before his health prevented him continuing.
Robert was a
faithful attendee at working bees. He enjoyed contributing
special plant material for the Park and was an active
participant in discussions around the “smoko” table.
Then
later in June we were to lose Denis Garret from Te Horo.
In
the formative years of the Park Denis, with his favourite
tractor, was instrumental in completing many of the major
construction projects required.
These three faithful
stalwarts will be sadly missed.
Financial matters
This past year has been a successful one with
garden takings of $4338 holding their own. It appears that the
mini-bus tours are becoming a regular feature during the season.
The website t was upgraded two years ago and is also playing a
major role attracting smaller tour companies.
Donations
are well down on last year as there were no conference related
contributions. However, this was more than compensated for by
the increase of $11345 in the Fisher Fund investments. While
this has been a good year for share market returns it may not
always be so.
We have put aside $5000 towards the
replacement of our ageing lawn mower and a currently progressing
an application to Eastern and Central Communities Trust for a
grant of $10500 to achieve this.
Interest earned is
considerably lower as our previous Term Deposits have been
consolidated in Fisher Funds where the growth far exceeds
nominal bank interest. Currently you are unable to get 3% for
one-year term deposits. We now have only two bank term deposits.
Endowment Fund
As has been often
reported in the media, this last year, the share-market has
performed remarkedly well.
Our return was 7.7% (after fees),
More than twice of what we would have received from the banks.
However, things can quickly change, particularly in the current
economic climate that prevails. Take the rough with the smooth.
At balance date the Endowment Fund was $198,903 and since
then we are able to add $15,000 to the Fund made up of firstly
$5,000 from Hawkes Bay Rhododendron Group who have wound up and
passed their remaining funds ( $6500) to Heritage Park, and
secondly a most generous bequest of $10,000 from Robert Young.
This deposit will boost the Fund to $233,903 fast
approaching the target of $250,000 that was set with the
formation of the Trust in 2006.
Again, this year we have had
no cause to withdraw any money from the Fund for operational
expenses as we still have conference surpluses as working
capital.
Other Donations
At
Denis Garret’s funeral service the family specified that tin
lieu of flowers donations be made to Heritage Park Trust and we
received a generous $360
Wellington Rhododendron Group
found themselves in the situation of having to disband and have
made $3,000 available to us with the express wish that we
consider purchasing a suitable artwork for the Park.
To
this end I visited the Sculpture & Art Festival at Kimbolton to
get inspiration. As result I invited Anna Kingsley from
Carterton to visit the Park bringing one of her spheres to meet
with Charles Foulds, Lyndsay Davies, Sue and myself to show how
it would blend into the Park.
After a serious discussion we
asked her to put her talents to using leaves from the Big Leaf
species to make a sphere for us. Still a work in progress.
After hearing of Wellington’s request, the Hawkes Bay Group had
similar thoughts and requested that the balance of their
donation ($1500) be put to the same purpose. Nothing has been
decided yet, but there are some ideas circulating.
Governance
Just recently secretary
Alison Short advised me that due to an ever-increasing Local
Government workload she is finding it extremely difficult to
fulfil her role effectively.
Thank you, Alison, for filling
the gap this last twelve months.
Hopefully by AGM we will be
able to announce a successor.
It never just rains but it
pours. Treasurer Chris Wilson has also advised that because of
changing personal circumstances, she is finding it difficult to
fulfil her role.
Thank you, Chris, for your year in the job.
Fortunately, Charles Foulds has agreed to step up and take over
the purse strings.
To my team of Trustees many thanks for
your continuing support in maintaining the progress that
Heritage Park has achieved over recent years.
It has been a
pleasure working with you.
I move the adoption of
this report.
Mike Wagstaff
Chairperson.
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