Preserving the Past/ Funding the FutureTHE BIG OMAHA MARITIME HISTORICAL TRUST

In January 2007 with funding from the Meiklejohn family the Trust was established as a 150th Reunion project.

The Trust provides the legal framework for inter-generational ownership of documents, memorabilia and artifacts relevant to the Meiklejohn’s family history and to the shipbuilding carried out in the 19th century at Big Omaha. It also allows for funds to be accumulated over a period of several years for worthwhile projects.

The Trust will accumulate funds through donations, bequests and other fundraising activities to undertake research into and documentation of the activities of Captain and Mrs J S Meiklejohn, their forebears and successors, and of other shipbuilding pioneers in the Rodney District .

The Trust will fund the procurement and preservation of documents, ship’s logs and of other items of historical interest as well as recording the history of ships built in the Big Omaha area. It is also intended to highlight points of historical interest through appropriate signage.

Donations of cash and of family memorabilia are keenly sought. A donation form appears within the website.

From 1 December 2008 the Trust became a registered charity and as a result donations of over $5 qualify for a tax rebate or deduction to individuals and companies. The trust has been allocated the reference number CC35211 with the Charities Commission – www.charities.govt.nz – the latest financial statements and other information can be found there – the trust’s postal address is PO Box 28 018 Remuera Auckland 1541.

As of 31 March 2009 the Equity of the trust was $1,830 which was held in bank deposits. In July 2009 the Meiklejohn Family Fund passed over to the trust cash funds of $5,500.

BOMHT Purposes (extract from Deed)

1.1 To fund research into and documentation of the activities of Captain James S Meiklejohn and his wife Catherine Meiklejohn(nee Mustard), their forebears and successors, and of other shipbuilding pioneers in the Rodney district including but not limited to –
A) The procurement of, categorization of, restoration of and preservation of early documents, logs and records and other family property including those deemed by museum and archival authorities to be in the national or local interest.
B) Researching and documenting the construction, use, working life and ultimate disposition of each ship built by the Meiklejohn family and associates at Big Omaha, North Auckland in the nineteenth century, to enable the publication of this important work.
C) Writing a history of the design and construction of the first working scow built by John Meiklejohn at Big Omaha and to analyse the economic impact on these crafts.
D) Financially assisting the Warkworth District Museum Inc and other such institutions to retain, restore, catalogue and display family and other artifacts of historical interest.
E) Developing through websites and other media a database of information whereby researchers, family and other interested parties can access family and pioneer historical material including genealogical information.
F) Development of an accurate heritage map of the Leigh/Matakana area and to financially support the purchase and maintenance of signs, displays and other objects such as monuments.

1.2 To financially support the above as well as –

A) The restoration and subsequent maintenance of historic scows which were built in the Rodney area.
B) The commemorations of the arrival in 1858 of Captain Meiklejohn and his family in New Zealand
C) The redevelopment of historical points of interest.