August can be a funny time in Le Quesnoy. On one hand, the town can feel surprisingly empty, as locals head away on holiday and shops and restaurants take their annual breaks. On the other, August plays host to several annual events and is often our busiest month with travelling Kiwis. In other words, Te Arawhata continues to be busy!
I was delighted to have members of the New Zealand Defence Force visit us at the Museum this month. Te Arawhata is a living memorial – despite its focus on the liberation of Le Quesnoy in WW1, it stands as a home for all New Zealanders, and so it was particularly special to have members of our military here to pay their respects to those who came before.
Le Quesnoy’s annual “Bimberlot” fair, held on 1 August, was a real highlight of my family’s summer. “Giants” walking through the street, led on by marching bands and can-can dancers, all while slack-liners walked tight ropes strung across the moats in the ramparts – it was quite the sight to behold!
August also marked the end of our time with summer intern, Sam Rea-Rankin. Sam, a Kiwi studying at France’s prestigious political science university, Science-Po, was a brilliant addition to the team and will be missed. I thank him for his hard work, his passion for remembrance, and his good humour over the past couple of months.
As I write this letter, it seems that the summer weather has already turned towards autumn.
The same cannot be said for the Te Arawhata calendar, as we have plenty coming up in September: a talk about the power of the French-NZ rugby rivalry; the European Heritage Days, which will be celebrated with a special guided tour of the Museum and a before-and-after photo exhibition; and the arrival of a Kiwi French teacher, whose time in Le Quesnoy will help to build our educational offering.
Plenty of reasons to come for a visit – see you soon at Te Arawhata!