News
The Awarua Communications Museum will soon have the perfect narrative companion with the launch of a book documenting the history of the Awarua Radio Station.
Photo: whatsoninvers.nz
The book is laid out in scrapbook fashion and covers the stations operational period between 1913 and 1991; included is a section dedicated to the current use of the Awarua area in its modern communications capacity as home to the Unwin radar and Venture Southland’s satellite tracking station.
Author Alex Glennie has a very personal connection with the Awarua Radio Station; his father was part of the staff for 30 years from 1946 until 1976. Mr Glennie’s father was posted to Awarua following wartime communications service on the Chatham Islands.
Mr Glennie said compiling the book had begun with the authoring of short biographies of staff members before expanding into a more in depth document having a good coverage of the Awarua facility history from its inception.
“The book has been a labour of love to research and prepare for publication. We will launch the book on 3 September 25 years since Awarua Radio ZLB closed its doors for the last time.”
“Should anyone want to view or order or view the book “A Scrapbook of History … Awarua Radio ZLB” the Awarua Communications Museum will also be open on Sunday 4 of September from 11.00 am to the public. Alternatively they can contact me or the museum directly”.
Venture Southland Group Manager for Community, Tourism and Events Bobbi Brown said the book publishing compliments the recent opening of the communications museum at Awarua.
“This publication and communications museum adds to the ever-increasing reasons why domestic and international visitors may choose to come to or extend their length of stay in Southland.”
A Scrapbook of History … Awarua Radio ZLB” book launch:
Awarua Communications Museum 2pm Saturday 3rd September 2016.