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PL History
"Notice where the Energy is - that's where the magic happens"
Margaret Jefferies MNZM, PL Chair 2003-2020
Margaret Jefferies
Margaret Jefferies was a key figure in solidly establishing Project Lyttelton (PL). Her mission was to get Lyttelton people to agree on a shared vision to drive our township forward. In 2003 with Wendy Everingham, a series of community meetings were held and from these meetings the vision statement that drove PL over the years was formed.
Margaret became the first chair of PL in 2003 and remained in that role until her passing in 2020. She focussed on making our community resilient and empowered. Margaret was also the driver behind the Harbour Co-op, the veggie box scheme, Timebanking, and community gardens, leaving a solid legacy within Lyttelton. In recognition of the important work she did in Lyttelton and greater Christchurch Margaret was awarded a New Zealand Order of Merit.
In partnership with Project Lyttleton and Leadership in Communities (LinC) in Christchurch, the Inspiring Communities produced this video about some of Margarets achievements and thoughts, in homage upon Margarets passing in 2020.
Lyttelton Time Bank
One of Margarets earliest projects when she became the Chair of Project Lyttelton was the “Community Angel”. This was a forerunner to the Timebank. Our “angel” was someone who could lend a helping hand, or ear, if you needed, pioneering the Lyttelton Timebank. The Lyttelton Timebank took off, with many other timebanks subsequently appearing across Christchurch and New Zealand.
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When Lyttelton was ravaged by earthquakes in 2011 the Timebank became a massive asset to Lyttelton. Wendy Everingham was a key figure in this period coordinating and growing the Lyttelton Timebank. Hundreds of members within our community traded skill-sets as an alternative currency. By 2019 the onset of Covid combined with the rise of social media contributed to the eventual shelving of the Lyttelton Timebank in 2022.
Festival of Lights
In 2005 this concept was borne out of a desire for a community celebration mid-winter and drew major sponsorship from the CCC and Lyttelton Port Company. With street closures for the town parade, night-market, buskers, stilt walkers, fire twirlers, staging for multiple bands and musicians, and a huge fireworks display, this event also drew crowds in the thousands. Local bands, performers, and entertainers as well as a massive community involvement made this festival extraordinary.
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Directed by Claire Coates and involving dozens of volunteers, significant outside attendance increased each year as did event costs and the human resources required. The event was so successful that is became too big for the township to accommodate, and In 2019 Project Lyttelton made the difficult decision to refocus those resources more widely for greater community benefit.
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Take a moment to reminisce and check out the epic 'Lyttelton Harbour Festival of Lights' Gallery below.
