Anzac Commemoration Service 2024

Standard bearers at The Ballance House Anzac Day Commemoration hosted by the Ulster New Zealand Trust to remember those from these islands, NZ and Australia who served in the famous Anzac Forces to defend our freedom in two world wars. A piper and bugler from 2nd Batt Royal Irish Regiment led the veterans in their march on.

Paul Hewitt, right, chair of the Ulster New Zealand Trust, welcomes Patricia Perry, HM High Sheriff for Co Antrim and HM Deputy Lieutenant for Co Antrim Eric Rainey, CVO, MBE to the Anzac Day Commemoration Service at The Ballance House.

Miss Betty Wilson, 1926 - 2024

Betty Wilson was the Ulster New Zealand Trust’s longest serving volunteer, esteemed committee member and a great supporter of all the Trust’s activities.   Betty was aged 98 years and her mother was a Ballance.

In 2019 Betty accepted the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service from Mrs Joan Christie, Lord Lieutenant for Co Antrim on behalf of the Trust. 

For years, Betty organised and ran the fund-raising tombola stall at our annual events and provided lovely snowdrop table decorations at the annual Waitangi Lunch.  She will be sadly missed by our team for her good nature and humour.

Waitangi 2024 celebration at The Ballance House

The liberal ideals of John Ballance continue to impact on daily life in New Zealand as the High Commissioner of NZ to the UK, the Hon Phil Goff, told guests attending the UNZT annual Waitangi Lunch. Ballance, a man, who strove to ensure settlers and Maori, males and females, all had equal opportunities.

Recounting the story of his own working class family and of more recent multi-ethnic immigrants Phil Goff gave an inspiring resume of the beliefs that John Ballance helped install in this liberal democracy. Vital beliefs, he affirmed, if harmony is to be maintained given that humans are sadly all too tribal.

Thanks also to Harrison and Bradley, over from Dilworth School NZ, for performing a haka for our guests.

Caroline Keenan The newly appointed Honorary Consul for New Zealand

The Ulster New Zealand Trust is pleased to welcome Caroline Keenan as the new Honorary Consul for New Zealand. We look forward to working with Caroline and liaising with regard to furthering links between Northern Ireland and New Zealand.

With dual citizenship of the UK and New Zealand, Caroline tells us she was delighted to be appointed Honorary Consul for New Zealand in September 2023, and is very much looking forward to fulfilling this role. Read more about Caroline here.

Others follow Daffodil Group lead

The Northern Ireland Daffodil Group was one of the first to use The Ballance House for meetings, but their example was followed by numerous clubs and businesses over the past 30 years.

Based in an historic farmyard with an excellent conference room for up to 60, tea barn and parking galore, the Ulster New Zealand Trust facility offers a year round friendly welcome. The on-site museum is open to the general public on Sundays other than in the winter.

However, it can be visited by groups at any time. A popular option as the museum and tea barn were both up graded during the Covid lockdown. The Ballance House offers privacy and sole use of the facility to clients varying from vintage car clubs to family celebrations and company staff training sessions.  All in the idyllic surroundings of gardens and fields overlooking Lough Neagh, the largest inland lake in the British Isles.

Minutes motoring from the Motorway network, Lisburn, Glenavy and Belfast International Airport this is a truly unique conference and event venue.

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Former Mayor appointed Trust Director

Former Lisburn and Castlereagh Mayor Brian Bloomfield MBE has volunteered to serve on the board of the Ulster New Zealand Trust. A native of Co Londonderry Brian Bloomfield attended Limavady Grammar School before graduating from Queen’s University Belfast.

Then followed a post grad year at Aberystwyth University College, Wales after which he became qualified to teach both geography and PE. Returning to his native heath Brian taught at Methodist College Belfast for 20 years until appointed Vice-Principal at Wallace High School, Lisburn. A post held from 1988 until 2008.  He was very active as a rugby coach both at school, reaching two Schools Cup Finals, and at Club level and was much involved in Coach Education. He also served as Senior Ulster Coach 1993 – 1995 and in 2009 was awarded an MBE for services to rugby.

In 2011 he entered Local Government and served two terms as an Ulster Unionist Party Councillor for Lisburn North, becoming Mayor for the year 2016-17. It was a year greatly enjoyed by Brian and his wife of 50 years, Rosalind, a former special needs teacher. The Mayor’s chosen Charity, Tinylife, benefited by just over £97,000. During their year in office there were many opportunities to meet with volunteer groups in communities across the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council area.

With two of a family, Clare and Jonathan, Brian and Rosalind became grandparents in 2015 with the arrival of their first of four grandchildren.

The new director of the UNZT became involved with the team of volunteers at The Ballance House while serving on LCCC Council.  Brian has links with New Zealand as far back as the 1950s when relations of his father emigrated from Downpatrick to New Zealand.  Of course one of New Zealand’s other NI born Premiers, William Massey, came from Brian Bloomfield’s hometown of Limavady.

High Commissioner of NZ to the UK visits The Ballance House

On Wednesday 7 June the Ulster New Zealand Trust was delighted to welcome to The Ballance House the newly appointed High Commissioner of New Zealand to the United Kingdom, His Excellency Hon Phil Goff, accompanied by First Secretary Kate Swan from the New Zealand High Commission in London.  The High Commissioner was in Northern Ireland for several business engagements, so we were honoured that he found time in a very busy visit to travel out to Glenavy to see The Ballance House.

Our Executive Chair, Mr Freddie Hall and several of our directors met the High Commissioner and First Secretary on their arrival at The Ballance House. Over tea and light refreshments Mr Goff was introduced to the work of the Trust, its origins and how the vision of Jill McIvor, some 30 years ago, had come to fruition with the restoration of the birthplace of John Ballance, Premier of New Zealand from 1891-93.  Since that early work, the Trust continues to maintain the close links between Ulster and New Zealand through promotion of the profile of John Ballance and the opening of the facility to the wider community.  The High Commissioner took a guided tour of the Trust’s new exhibition, ably given by our Director, Brian Mackey.  

 The High Commissioner was very impressed and complimentary of the work of the Trust and we are very pleased that the High Commission will be promoting the Trust through its tourist offices in New Zealand to New Zealanders planning to visit Northern Ireland.

Coronation Celebrations

A truly celebratory Coronation event was held at The Ballance House on 8 May for our volunteers and members.  A very happy and fun afternoon was spent with entertainment including a Royal-themed presentation, exceptional musical inputs with singing and instrumentals from Chloe, Sylvia and Rachel, Piper Andy and Bugler Gregory, a competitive quiz and a delicious afternoon tea.   The unveiling of our garden seat to commemorate the Coronation was carried out by Honor, one of our long-serving volunteers.

 Thanks to everyone who joined us and to LCCC for awarding the King’s Coronation Small Grants which assisted in the funding of this event.

Anzac Commemoration Service, 30 April 2023

Book The Ballance House

Booking is now open for a Sunday afternoon outing to The Ballance House   Book Here  

From Sunday 2 April, 2 – 5 pm, our guides will introduce you to our New Zealand Story 'Half a World Away From Here' Exhibition and the new 19th century Farm Machinery display.  You will go back in time as you step into the Victorian Parlour, the ‘good room’ of our great grandparents in rural Ulster, then finish your visit with a cup of tea.

With its original features, historic artefacts and colourful heritage exhibitions, there is something for everyone to enjoy as links, past and present, between Ulster and NZ are explored.   Come and see what it’s all about!

2023 Events at The Ballance House

We are looking forward to a busy 2023 season at The Ballance House. Our Calendar of Events below gives you the dates of our annual family fun days - keep an eye on our Events page and Facebook for updates.

Public visiting on Sunday afternoons, 2 - 5 pm, re-opens on 2 April For further information on online booking go our Visitor Information page. We look forward to welcoming you to The Ballance House!

Jubilee Celebration Event, a truly jubilant day!

BALLANCE and McKnight family members joined nearly 60 Ulster New Zealand Trust members/volunteers in making the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee event on Thurs, June 2 truly memorable. An afternoon of pleasant entertainment with good food and great company at the Ballance House. Thanks to Lisburn & Castlereagh District Council for awarding the Trust £500 from the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Fund 2022.

Trust Patron Brian McKnight planted a tree in the orchard as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy.  A unique initiative marking Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee as groups across the United Kingdom planted a tree to mark 70 years of Royal rule.

Amelanchier lamarckii, a native of the British Isles, was selected being a deciduous small tree providing colour across two seasons. Also known as the Juneberry it will add colour to the orchard for generations to come.

Welcomed by Trust executive director Freddie Hall guests enjoyed a varied programme, including a Lisburn Camera Club film of the newly crowned Queen visiting Lisburn in 1953. Only weeks after the lucky few were able to watch on tiny black and white TV screens the Coronation in London.

Ulster New Zealand Trust members of all ages noting how Lisburn and our social habits are much changed. Market Square in 1953 had no Linen Centre nor Museum, but many small shops. Folks then dressed in their very best complete with hats for all during the visit followed by a quick fag for the men folk. That young and glamorous Queen must have shaken the hands of many thousands of local worthies since then. Taking care to make each individual’s big day special no matter how routine it is to the Royal family.

The afternoon’s entertainment continued with two musical interludes by Chloe Megarry, great granddaughter of Jack and Samelia Ballance, and by volunteer guide Francis Mulley accompanied by Ken Robb on keyboard.    Followed by an audience rendition of ‘We’ll Meet Again.’ 

Then came a Royal table quiz with first prize to the Team Twigg Table and an excellent afternoon tea served by Margaret Parks and family.  Following which David Twigg proposed the Loyal Toast and encouraged those old enough to recall their own 1953 Coronation Day memories.

Adding that in 1953 Her Majesty made the first ever Christmas broadcast from overseas live from New Zealand during a royal tour of the Commonwealth.

Others noted that John Ballance, the Ulsterman who served NZ so well as Premier, lived entirely through the reign of Queen Victoria.  Our previous longest serving monarch. John was born in 1839 two years after Queen Victoria came to the throne. Thus he knew no other Head of State during his lifetime. Something John Ballance has in common with almost all of us today.

Rodney Magowan

Volunteer PRO

Welcome to our new Treasurer

TOM HENDRY, recently retired Bursar at Friends' School Lisburn, has accepted the voluntary post of Treasurer with the Ulster New Zealand Trust, which exists to foster and celebrate cultural, business and sporting links between NI and NZ.

 The Ballance House museum, event centre and tea barn at Glenavy Road, Lisburn has been developed by the Trust over three decades. Indeed Tom Hendry has been involved with the UNZT over many of those years as a volunteer and a director.

 His predecessor as Treasurer, Fullerton Jelly, served for nine years with great enthusiasm and meticulous attention to detail. Ably assisted by his wife Maureen, also a UNZT volunteer, Fullerton played a key role in steering The Ballance House finances successfully through the first major museum upgrade in 30 years and challenging Covid pandemic lockdowns. Both remain as volunteers and Fullerton continues to serve on the Executive Committee of the Ulster New Zealand Trust.

Virtual Waitangi Day 2022

The recording of this year’s virtual Waitangi Day event is now available on our YouTube page https://youtu.be/N-RgAodz_Bc

Paul Hewitt, Chairman of the Ulster New Zealand Trust led our Waitangi Day on Zoom, with attendees and contributors from all over the British & Irish Isles.

We were pleased to welcome Shannon Austin, the NZ Deputy High Commissioner in London and Alderman Stephen Mayor, Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council (twinned with Wanganui).

Particular thanks to our guest speaker, Dr William Crawley, a well known BBC broadcaster, presenter and producer who made an outstanding series of TV programmes on the links between NZ and NI.

Thanks to everyone who took part. 

Ballance Agri-Nutrients, proud supporter of The Ballance House

Leading New Zealand farm supply co-operative Ballance Agri-Nutrients is now a proud supporter of the Ulster New Zealand Trust as upgrading The Ballance House display continues.

Ballance Agri-Nutrients is a 100% New Zealand farmer and grower owned co-operative, committed to farming more productively, profitably and sustainably since the 1940s.

In 2001, the board of the two legacy companies of Ballance Agri-Nutrients, Bay of Plenty Fertiliser and Southfert, decided to adopt John Ballance’s name as he created the legislation that opened the way for the rapid expansion of New Zealand’s farm and food based economy. 

The co-operative was created to offer farmers and growers a source of reasonably priced fertiliser.  Currently the business has almost a dozen depots including one at Marton just 30 mins drive from Whanganui where Ulsterman John Ballance first came to prominence as a newspaper editor and proprietor before becoming Prime Minister.

In addition to their core business of fertiliser manufacture, supply and spreading, Ballance Agri-Nutrients offer a full range of science-backed nutrient products, advisory services and agri-tech innovations to promote world class soil and animal health standards. 

 Healthy soil is the foundation of everything farmers produce.  A healthy soil system needs external nutrients to both maintain and enhance yields.   New Zealanders export approximately 95% of their nutrients in the form of dairy, meat, fruit, vegetables and wine, so must replace these nutrients to sustain healthy and productive soil.

 Ballance Agri-Nutrients has a rich heritage of supporting productivity and employment as well as caring for the people, land and animals. Values closely aligned to the personal qualities John Ballance developed as a farmer's son growing up in Co Antrim.

Today, Ballance Agri-Nutrients enables farmers to be future-ready; to be stewards of their land; and to work together with nature to leave their land in a better condition for generations to come. 

Browse https://ballance.co.nz/ for an insight into the operations of Ballance Agri-Nutrients  and how New Zealand agriculture continues to lead the world in nature friendly, super-efficient food production.

30 years landmark achievement at the Ballance House!

On the 13 June 1991, The Ballance House, Glenavy was formally opened as a visitor attraction in the Lisburn Council area.   Thirty years hence, on 4 September 2021, a lovely Ulster sunny afternoon, the Ulster New Zealand Trust celebrated that Anniversary with volunteers, members and guests.

A major part of the day was the official opening of a newly developed Exhibition, ‘Half a World Away from Here, the New Zealand Story’.  Designed and researched by Mr Brian Mackey, former Curator of the Irish Linen Centre Lisburn Museum, he explained that the Exhibition “presents a remarkably interesting and compelling story about Ulster people in New Zealand that deserves to be better known about and understood. It is hoped this new Exhibition will contribute to the Trust’s ambition to achieve that purpose by attracting and engaging new audiences at the Ballance House”.

The Chairman of UNZT, Paul Hewitt, spoke of the significance of this Pearl Anniversary as something which represented not mainly the outer shell, but what was contained inside – a remarkable and priceless story of people and their amazing contributions from one small country to another major nation on the other side of the world.  He said that the new Exhibition signified the UNZT’s complete belief in the value of its mission at The Ballance House and its faith in taking a new step towards the future. 

Mr Hewitt conveyed formal greetings received from Dilworth School, Auckland, the Royal School Dungannon whose former pupil founded it and gave New Zealand one of Ulster’s three Prime Ministers in Sir Edward Stafford, as well as from the NI First and Deputy First Ministers, from Ballance Agri-nutrients’ CEO in Tauranga, and from other sponsors of the Exhibition.

Personal greetings and tributes were delivered from Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council’s Mayor, Alderman Stephen Martin, the New Zealand Deputy High Commissioner to the UK, Shannon Austin and the New Zealand Honorary Consul for Northern Ireland, Professor Sinclair Stockman. 

The cutting of the ribbon was carried out by Mr Jack Ballance Wallace, who is a direct descendant of Premier John Ballance and the New Zealand Deputy High Commissioner who was presented with an Irish linen scarf kindly donated by Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council Visitor Information Centre.

Along with guided tours of the Exhibition, the celebration featured music by Baillies Mills Accordion Band, including a stirring rendition of the New Zealand National Anthem.

A selection of Photos of this event and Congratulatory messages.

A special Maori doll arrives at the Ballance House!

The Trust was delighted to receive a beautiful Maori doll (with special feathers) as a gift from Amanda McLaren, Ambassador for the McLaren Motor Racing Company.   We were so pleased that Amanda chose The Ballance House as a ‘good home’ for her doll which will figure prominently in our new Exhibition.   

Other lovely objects received from Amanda, that will be on display, include a Maori ‘Tiki’ carved box, a Maori flute ‘Kōauau’, and a carved Feather Box ‘Wakahuia’.

Amanda’s late father, Bruce McLaren, was born in Auckland and his first racing car was an Austin 7 Ulster (yet another Ulster-NZ connection!).   He later moved to England and became founder of the McLaren Company.     Unfortunately, he was killed in a testing accident at Goodwood in 1970.   

We look forward to welcoming Amanda and her husband as visitors to The Ballance House in due course.

A special memory of former Lisburn Mayor, the late Councillor Margaret Tolerton

It was with much regret that I learned of the death of former Councillor Mrs Margaret Tolerton. She was the driving force during her year as Mayor of Lisburn for a historic visit to Whanganui, New Zealand, in June 2014 to re-sign the Declaration of Friendship between the two cities.  Whanganui was the Parliamentary constituency and burial place of John Ballance, 14th Premier of NZ (1891-93), born at Glenavy, Co. Antrim.  My original plan had been to have a CCTV link between the two locations at the actual same times i.e. supper time in Whanganui (8pm) and breakfast time in Glenavy(8am), but we didn’t have our present information systems officer (Rory) then and so this original idea failed. Margaret then suggested what seemed an equally impossible situation – to visit Whanganui to re-sign the Declaration in person. Assisted by the acting Chief Executive of the Council – Adrian Donaldson and the Chairman of the Corporate Services Committee –  Pat Catney, I was invited to accompany them. The visit was approved and the plan agreed between both Councils which was to last four days with two days travelling in each direction. 

 We flew from London Heathrow to Sydney via Guangzhou (Canton) and it was during this flight that I became aware of Margaret’s health situation. She fortunately had a chance to rest during the stop-over in Sydney before flying into Wellington and driving to Whanganui.  

Whanganui Council arranged a very busy programme for us to ensure that no time was wasted and which started on the first morning when we attended a Maori Puanga (New Year ceremony) at 5am, which was followed by a tour of Whanganui from the Maori perspective. This set the tone for the rest of this incredibly short visit and which Margaret took in her stride. The main event on the last morning was the signing of the Declaration of Friendship in the Council Offices along with Mayor Annette Main.

Later that evening we had a scheduled meeting with the local community – I was there, but no sign of the others until Adrian suddenly arrived with the news that Margaret had been admitted to hospital and was about to undergo surgery.  Adrian and Pat spent most of the night getting the news back to Lisburn, informing her family and amending the return travel arrangements. Adrian and Pat stayed with Margaret until her son was able to fly out to join her while I returned as planned, bringing the gold mayoral chain in order that the new Mayor could be installed with due custom 2 days later. 

 In spite of being unwell, Margaret went ahead with this ambitious programme as planned and was determined not to cause any disruption. She had served Lisburn Council for many years and will be sorely missed by her family and friends. She was a lovely lady and a good friend of The Ballance House. 

Photo taken in 2014 during a visit from the then NZ High Commissioner to the UK Rt Hon Sir Lockwood Smith (centre), Lisburn Mayor Margaret Tolerton, and David Twigg.

 David Twigg, Director

Ulster New Zealand Trust at The Ballance House

Stories of Ruapekapeka

Whilst we recently marked the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi it is important to remember other events in the history of New Zealand. This video by RNZ commemorates the New Zealand Wars with the documentary ‘Stories of Ruapekapeka’.

Recommended viewing.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/.../nz-wars-the-stories-of-ruapekapeka

Local Council Supports UNZT

The Ulster New Zealand Trust is very pleased to have been awarded a grant under the Lisburn & Castlereagh Community Support Scheme for 20-21.  

 The LCCC Community Support department staff have been of great assistance to the Trust during the continuing Covid-19 pandemic, in particular with advice and guidance.

 As we have been unable to run our usual programme of activity during 2020 and 2021, so far, we have been pleased to use this funding to help improve our community facility to meet the emerging needs of the local area and enhance our visitor experience for the future.