Collecting knowledge

Press, 22 August 1989, Page 16

Collecting knowledge

If you have some spare time during the day and have not yet enjoyed the diverse and interesting programmes offered by the Workers’ Educational Association, now is the time to begin, especially if you are a collector. This organisation, better known to the many who have benefited from its efforts, as the “W.E.A.,”; has its headquarters in Gloucester Street West right opposite the Car Park. It has included in its day-time programme for the third term a “Collectors’ Corner.” This will consist of a series of talks by experienced collectors who will bring along selected pieces from their own collections, and advise on various aspects of collecting. Sessions will be held on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. starting on Thursday, September 14. The fee is $lO and the course is not limited to members of the association.

The New Zealand W.E.A., founded in 1915, was inspired by an English organisation begun by a husband and wife team, Frances and Albert Mansbridge, called “The Association to Promote the Higher Education of Working Men.” Today such a title would be regarded as sexist, and even then it lasted only two years. It was changed to “Workers’ Educational Association.” In both countries the original driving force had come from women, Frances Mansbridge in England, and Evelyn Willett Cunnington in New Zealand. Through the years opportunities for people at all levels of society to continue education to secondary and tertiary stages have greatly increased, and the role of the W.E.A. has changed and broadened. While still assisting those who wish to pursue academic or scientific studies they also provide a wide range of leisure activities including

calligrahpy; library skills; ‘Our Neighbours’ Faith — Some World Religions; armchair travel, painting, italic writing, and many others.

If you often find yourself getting the worst of a verbal encounter there is also an Assertiveness course. Call at the W.E.A. or ring for a full programme. The medals illustrated are all from the collection of the second speaker in the “Collecting” series, Alan Polaschek.

They include a group of three medals issued to P. A. Lazarus for service in the Post and Telegraph Department, one during the “Great War for Civilisation” as quoted on the reverse side of the medal; another showing King George V on horseback

and a third apparently for service in Burma which has an Indian scene protrayed on the reverse.

Two medals awarded for prowess in shooting are intriguing, one featuring a bear and the other three men apparently in competition of some sort.

One of the most beautiful is an elaborately enamelled medal with a white elephant surrounded with red enamel decoration. This is equally attractive on the reverse and is mounted on a red ribbon edged with blue, yellow and green. Medals are generally considered to be coin-like pieces struck or cast in metal to commemorate special events or in honour of outstanding achievements or remarkable people.

The first true medals were struck in ancient Rome. They were large pieces of bronze, silver or

(very rarely) • gold and were produced only by order of the Emperor. Earlier the Greeks had occasionally made use of coins originally struck for curency, to add inscriptions commemorating a renowned person. One such example was a 10 drachma piece struck by Alexander the Great to commemorate his victory over the King of India. The oldest of the 706 medals gathered up by Alan Polaschek over the last thirty years is one dated 1799. It was issued to all troops who fought for the Honourable East India Company to commemorate the Battle of Seringapatam after which an autocratic Indian ruler Tipoo Sahib was deposed. Many other battles and events are commemorated by distinctive medals in this collection, too many to describe here. This tutor should cer-

tainly be an inspiring one for any new collector. I have seen many beautifully kept collections of various types, but not many in such a condition as his.

Every piece is recorded and numbered so that he can locate it in a few seconds. He seems to know the history of each piece, and a new addition can be numbered immediately for instant identification at any time. Certainly a model collection. Other objects included in the proposed Collectors Course are: miniatures; biro pens; jig-saw puzzles; spoons (you are invited to bring some of your own collections to this one); Old books and china boots and shoes.

If you would like to assist the W.E.A. a little further you may choose to become a member. Individual membership subscription is $6.75 p.a.