Landfall is almost in sight as earthworks begin at the site of the lifeboat Alexandra’s new home at Caroline Bay.
In July last year, the Timaru Host Lions launched a $350,000 fundraising campaign to re-home the piece of maritime history in a new shelter so it could be observed and preserved for generations to come.
The lifeboat is primarily remembered for its use during the infamous ‘‘Black Sunday’’ wrecks in 1882, when a strong southeasterly gale broke the anchorages of Benvenue and City of Perth and swept them towards the Benvenue Cliffs.
Timaru Host Lions president Russell Cowles said it had been a hard 15 months of knocking on doors to get to this point in the project.
‘‘It’s going to be quite an exciting process. To see it done, it will be quite a relief.
‘‘I’m thrilled to see it nearly finished and out of our hair.’’
There was still about $20,000 left to raise, he said.
‘‘We’re still a bit short. We haven’t got the funds for the signage at this stage but we’re confident we’ll get some more money coming in.
‘‘We’re still asking for funding through the Aoraki Foundation website. So if there is somebody out there who could help us out, that would be great.’’
Most of the funding had come through grants, but local businesses had been supportive as well, he said.
‘‘South Canterbury has been hit with a lot of projects in the last few years, especially with the likes of CPlay and Fraser Park.
‘‘So we’ve also had to rely on a lot of the funding through our own Lions as well. We’ve given probably, between our own club and other clubs, in the excess of $100,000 to $120,000 ourselves.’’
Earthworks should last for about three weeks with the goal to have the shelter fully completed by the first week of December.
History of Alexandra:
