Already known for its colourful ‘herd of cows’ dotted around the town, Morrinsville is attracting a new fan base through an eye-catching collection of miniature bovines now on display at the information centre. Viv Posselt investigates.
Morrinsville Information Centre manager Cathy Balvert surrounded by just some of the tiny cows on display in the Meryle Lockley Cow Collection. Photo: Viv Posselt
Hundreds of tiny cows herded over 45 years by Waikato businesswoman Meryle Lockley are now in one place.
Meryle Lockley
The real estate stalwart died last September after a long illness, but earlier that year she secured the collection’s future by making an approach through her son, Jason Lockley, to the longstanding manager of the Morrinsville Information Centre, Cathy Balvert.
That approach was made based on Morrinsville’s successful ‘Herd of Cows’ project that has seen 60 of the painted creatures pop up in the town’s streets in the decade since it was launched.
Meryle so enjoyed the town’s affiliation with bovines that she suggested Morrinsville adopt the name ‘Cow Town’.
“Jason called to see if we’d be interested in taking the collection, or if we might know someone who would,” Cathy said.
Just some of many lounging cows on display. Photo: Viv Posselt
She asked Jason to send her a few photographs and was ‘blown away’ by what she saw. She then visited Meryle in Hamilton and together they organised for the collection to be packed up and brought back to the information centre in Morrinsville. The gift included the cabinets that housed the collection, which made storage options far easier.
Cathy conducted a painstaking clean-up of the cows, delighting in the quirky range at each turn.
Jason said his mum’s collection started in 1980 when her sister bought her a cow salt and pepper cruet set for her birthday. Thereafter, wherever she went anywhere she would keep her eye out for another cow-collectible, browsing op-shops, markets, gift stores, antique shops and more. Many were found at a gift shop not far from Meryle’s real estate office in Huntly.
Some of the delightful cow money boxes on display. Photo: Viv Posselt
From those humble beginnings, the collection grew to include a variety of salt and pepper shakers, teapots and teacups, milk jugs, animatronic figures, money boxes, seats, a rocking cow, cartoon type and even stick and metal cow figures.
Along with the collection came a wave of community support. Cathy was awash with offers from local businesses who helped create space at the information centre and paid for everything, save a couple of hundred dollars of fittings. Together with support from the local council, practical assistance came from Kelvin Lauch Builders, Innovant Cabinetry, Laser Electrical, PlaceMakers, Ultimate Signs and Creative Studios.
It’s been something of a labour of love, with the town embracing a ‘skin in the game’ feel to the project.
“The community has got right behind this,” said Cathy. “We’re very grateful to them all.”
Some of the cream jugs collection. Photo: Viv Posselt
What is on show is probably 95 per cent plus of the collection, she added. Some soft toys are in storage, as are some Christmas-oriented cows likely to make their appearance in December.
Meryle had a long association with Morrinsville having been in real estate there for some time as well. Jason said she always collected stuff … cows, rimu and Blue Mountain pottery.
The Meryle Lockley Cow Collection was officially opened on September 5, just a few weeks before Meryle died.
“Meryle knew it was happening, but wasn’t well enough to come along,” Jason said, “but she was thrilled to know her collection had found a good home.”
This ‘cow-moo-nity’ cow stands atop one of the display cabinets. Photo: Viv Posselt
A couple of udderly charming teacups. Photo: Viv Posselt
Eye-popping metal cows ring the changes. Photo: Viv Posselt
