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Marguerite Durling's story

Discover why Marguerite Durling is leaving a gift in her Will to Auckland Museum.

Special Memories of Auckland Museum

Special Memories of Auckland Museum

Marguerite spent many childhood hours in the Auckland Museum. She arrived from England to live in New Zealand with her parents and two sisters in the 1950s. They arrived on Easter Sunday and had several hours to fill in before moving to their hotel.

“The taxi driver said he would take us to the only place that was open - Auckland War Memorial Museum - so I spent my first afternoon there getting to know a little of our new home and culture and continued to visit frequently”.

A transcribed letter interactive in the Museum's war galleries

Passion to Projects

In the early 2000s, Marguerite became a volunteer at the Museum and has since been involved in many projects.

“I transcribed a large number of letters written home by soldiers. Doing this has put a very personal face on the war for me; letters written in the back of a truck bouncing across the desert - long letters as a way of reaching out and holding on to home and family”.

“One of my long-term projects is helping to document the details from the minute books of Auckland Museum Institute and Auckland Museum. These go back to the 1960s; all handwritten in those early days. They are now available online for researchers to access in a readily searchable format”.
 

A soldier's letter transcribed by Marguerite that can been seen in the Pou Kanohi New Zealand at War Gallery.

Glass birds in the Tāmaki Herenga Waka Stories of Auckland Gallery

Why Marguerite chose to leave a gift in her Will to the Museum

“For me, Auckland Museum has both stayed a big part of my life and responded to the need for change. It has become not just a heritage landmark but a part of the DNA of our city and my family. I wanted to give something back to the city that has given so much to me (great life, great health, great community). I couldn't find anywhere better than the Institution that has been the background of my family and supporting this Museum to meet the needs of the next generation. I have confidence in how the gift in my Will be used after I am gone”.

“Not only have I left a gift in my Will, but I am also giving gifts now so that I can enjoy seeing how they are used to enhance visitors' experience of Auckland's history and developing culture".    
 

Marguerite and her sisters donated funds to commission these glass bird sculptures in memory of what would have been their parents' 100th birthday.

Discuss your wishes

Discuss your wishes

Like Marguerite, you too can make a difference by remembering Auckland Museum in your Will.

If you have made a gift in your Will to the Auckland Museum or are thinking about it, we would love to know.

For more information, please contact Sue Morse for a confidential discussion on (09) 306 7088 ext 7289 or 021 280 6244. Alternatively, you can email Sue at [email protected].