And how you can help if you’d like to collaborate...
Right now, I’m juggling a number of projects that blend storytelling, heritage, education and community engagement — some are voluntary, others commissioned — all with the shared goal of helping people connect with our place through free, meaningful experiences. Below is a snapshot of what’s on my plate, what I need, and how you might be able to contribute. It is a mission, and if you would like to help, I would be so greatful.
Most of the work is voluntary. If you had funding for any of these projects I would also love some support pretty please.
The Oxford Building Signage
Priority: Immediate
I’ve completed the research on the Turnbull family and have access to the original 1924 plans for this 100-year-old building. I’m now designing window signage to help passers-by appreciate the building’s history. Help needed:
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More detail on the Gabities family, who may have co-owned or held tenure of the site
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Wording suggestions that honour both families’ contributions
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Historical uses of the building (YMCA, etc)
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Anyone with photos or stories from its past
Story Circle at Caroline Bay
Priority: High
This will be a four-panel installation at the playground. Two sides will showcase historical photos and artworks from the Aigantighe. The other panels will share historical context that shaped the playground’s design. Help needed:
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Feedback on the draft content
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Suggestions for how to acknowledge donors and community supporters
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Fact-checking and review of wording tone and accuracy
New Lifeboat Signage (Lions Club)
This commemorative sign will sit with the lifeboat shelter, sharing Timaru’s sea rescue history. Help needed:
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Input from educators to make this meaningful for school groups
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Finalise story flow and wording
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Review by someone with local maritime knowledge
CBD Heritage Hunt and Window Wrap
This project brings together five years of research. I’ve illustrated all the CBD heritage buildings, built two online hunts, and the printed version is nearly ready to go. Help needed:
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Proofreading the dense handout
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Feedback on clarity, tone and layout
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Ideas for launching or promoting it in schools or the community
Scavenger Hunts for Caroline Bay and Botanic Gardens
The content needs updating to reflect changes like removed trees and new signage. Help needed:
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A walkaround buddy to re-map changes
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Suggestions for new activities or puzzles
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Funding or sponsors to print new editions
Ticket to Timaru
A social, educational series that blends local history, arts and heritage. The idea is to host casual gatherings with a guest speaker, followed by a visit to a significant property. Help needed:
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People interested in helping with logistics, bookings and hosting
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Feedback on the structure and content
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Leads for guest speakers or historic venues
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A companion for a recon trip to Dunedin to study their heritage tours
Whale Tail Trail and Memorial Plaques
Honouring Timaru’s whaling past and remembering those buried in unmarked graves, especially Ann Williams. https://www.wuhootimaru.co.nz/whale-tales-trails-hunt and https://www.wuhootimaru.co.nz/blog Help needed:
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Donations or funding advice for plaques
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Sensitive, inclusive wording for memorial signs
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Feedback on draft designs and trail structure
Street Art Trail
I’ve gathered the artwork details but now need historical and cultural context to tie it all together. Help needed:
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Writers or researchers to help draft short blurbs for each location
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Local knowledge about transport, botany, or artist backstories
Art History Trail or Coastal History Trail
I’ve got frames in storage and a potential partner ready to install them. But with limited TDC support, I may pivot toward telling history stories along the coast instead. Help needed:
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Alternate image sources if TDC images aren't available
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Ideas for signage placement along the coastal track
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Help managing public permissions or installations
General History Sign Refresh
Many of the Council’s signs are outdated. I’ve offered to redesign them in a consistent, attractive style. Help needed:
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Input on layout and accessibility
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Encouragement to help move this forward with the Council
Rebuilding the WuHoo Timaru Website
The site has grown large and a bit unwieldy. I want to reorganise it to serve two audiences — families seeking simple guides and educators/historians seeking depth. The vision is to have both polished content and a “detailed stories” archive for those who want to explore more. Help needed:
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Help structuring the new site
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Advice on incorporating AI search or interactive features
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Suggestions for improving navigation
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A few early testers to review the format
How You Can Help
Whether you’ve got research skills, proofreading eyes, graphic design flair, time to walk a trail, historical insights, or just a passion for storytelling — there’s space to contribute. If something caught your eye and you’d like to help, I’d love to hear from you. You don’t need to be an expert. You just need curiosity and a willingness to chip in. This is about building something meaningful together that celebrates our people, our place, and our stories — and making sure it’s accessible to everyone. You can get in touch via WuHoo Timaru website, or message me directly. Let’s make some WuHoos happen.
Bringing the arts, history and heritage club communities together
We are in the early stages of organising tours for members of arts, history and heritage clubs to special access of notible buildings and and peoples spaces. Plan is to do this via the Civic Trust, Friends of Aigantighe, South Canterbury Historical Society and South Canterbury Genealogy Society. Next step is to meet with these gruops to test the idea, and start planning.
The idea, is if the public wanted to come along, they will be need to hold a current membership with at least one of the groups. Idea is to meet somewhere first, have a mingle, share some information about the property we are about to go and see, then wander over and take a look with a guide.
We look forward to meeting with groups and property owners to explore the idea.
If you have a property that you would like to open up to use, please contact Roselyn Fauth This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Information about the clubs is here: wuhootimaru.co.nz/clubs