Brayshaw daughters’ bittersweet visit

Brayshaw Heritage Park is bathed in spring sunshine, two women stand silently, looking at the legacy laid out before them.

Sisters Jill Breaux and Karen Boxall smile as memories of their much-loved dad and park founder Norm Brayshaw, quickly come to mind.

In their minds eye, they see him towing his home made “transporter” behind him, moving old bits of farm machinery.

Behind the pair is a commemorative mural; a tribute to the unassuming Blenheim man who laid the foundations for the heritage park.

Ahead is the Marlborough Museum their father dreamt of one day seeing, but today its doors are only open temporarily to a tour party.

To see the vision, he worked so hard for, become a reality would mean the world, says Jill who was visiting from Florida last week.

But the current lack of agreement between Marlborough District Council and building owners Marlborough Historical Society have made this visit bittersweet for the pair.

“It’s disappointing that we can’t visit the museum on this visit,” says Jill. “Especially as our mother Beverley Brayshaw was patron of the Historical Society for many years.

“But we are certainly hopeful it will be open again soon and have confidence that the new Historical Society committee will work well with Council to ensure a sound future for Marlborough’s rich heritage.”

Norm, who was awarded a British Empire Medal in 1975, was instrumental in rescuing the Edwin Fox, erecting Beavertown’s replica shops and establishing the Renwick, Picton and Havelock Museums.

Karen, who is visiting from Wellington, says they have been following the developments closely.

“We hope the present negotiations with the District Council will see a secure long-term future for Brayshaw Park. It’s a fantastic facility that our father and many other volunteers have created, and we hope that dad’s legacy will be honoured and preserved.

“We despair about what’s happening and are really heartened by the new [Marlborough Historical     Society] committee, that they can get things working for the benefit of everyone.

“We are very proud of dad. He had a vision for all this and he’d be thrilled that this museum is here; he died before he could see it.”

The Museum is currently under the interim management of Council and has been closed to the public since the end of June. Private tours can be arranged.

Society President Dr Paul Davidson says at this stage there have not really been any negotiations with the Council.

He hopes to soon sit down face-to-face at a governance level and sort out the major strategic issues.

“It is fairly incredible what Norm Brayshaw and a bunch of enthusiastic volunteers have built up over some seventy years – including the collections, the museum and the many historic buildings now at the Park.

“We greatly respect those past members and are determined to preserve their legacy for present and future generations. In partnership with the Council, I am sure we can do it!”

Norm Brayshaw died in February 1981 at the age of 59 years old.