This time, though, the Central Stories museum and art gallery general manager will be leaving the facility and taking up a new role in Christchurch.
''It's sad to be going but exciting to be taking up a new challenge and heading back to work in a city again,'' she said. The new role is operations director at Gap Filler, which is a creative urban regeneration initiative run by a trust.
It was formed in response to the September 2010 earthquake in Christchurch and expanded after the February 2011 quake. Gap Filler carries out a wide range of temporary projects, events, installations and amenities in the city.
Its aim is to base creative projects in vacant sites within Christchurch, to make a more interesting, dynamic and vibrant city.
''The job came up and although I love working at Central Stories, this opportunity was so cool I had to give it a shot,'' Miss Welfare said. The 26 year old has thoroughly enjoyed her time in Alexandra.
''In terms of the organisation, we're in a very different space than when I came in three years ago. The shows have a more professional look and I'm proud of what we've achieved.
''We're working with the community more, there's more interaction with the schools and more community support.''
Funding was ''always a struggle, but it is for every museum,'' she said. Becoming the manager had been a steep learning curve but an enjoyable one and she was grateful for the support of the other staff, the museum board and volunteers.
Miss Welfare listed several exhibitions among the highlights of her time at the museum, including ''Wool Away'', on the Central Otago sheep and wool industry, and the WW100 display, which marked the World War 1 anniversary.
Changes to the structure of the museum, improved collection storage shelving, and working with all the museum volunteers on various projects were other highlights. Central Stories has five paid staff and a network of about 15 ''regular'' volunteers, as well another 15 on call.
Miss Welfare would like the district to have a ''roving museum officer'', similar to the one employed in Southland.
''We've got a high number of museums here and, of course, significant history, and it would be good to see co resourcing of a heritage role. That person could visit all the district's museums on a regular basis, staying at each place for a while, carrying out various projects.''
Central Stories board president Malcolm Macpherson said Miss Welfare had a great future. ''We knew we wouldn't have her here forever - that's the nature of young people - but she's done a great job for us and it's a real loss.''
Some ''really strong'' candidates had applied for the role. The board hoped to announce the successful candidate in the next week or so.
