Waimate's Historical Society is $5000 closer to making a bid to obtain some of the district's written history.

Rotary directors have unanimously agreed to donate the money from a bequest left by the late John Burcher.

Mr Burcher had asked for the money to be used on Waimate-based projects.

The donation follows a campaign to raise money for the purchase of Waimate's Advertiser newspapers, written material and photographs.

The collection of records covers 115 years of community news, events, births, deaths and marriages.

The paper finished business in September. Waimate District Council voted unanimously last month to grant $3500 towards the $10,000 needed for the purchase and preservation of the full collection.

Donations are being sought to secure the collection, with a dedicated bank account set up at the BNZ in Waimate.

The funds raised will go towards securing the material, processing and archiving the material for digitisation and creating a catalogue accessible to the public.

The items will need to be carefully cleaned and catalogued. There is a considerable amount of work involved because of the volume of material, and much of it will be done by volunteers under the guidance of the archivist.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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