A war of words has broken out in Te Awamutu over the town’s war memorials which include the names of the fallen from the Waipā District and the King Country.
Te Awamutu and District War Memorial Park.
Te Awamutu War Memorial Maintenance Committee member Marc Dawson wants the Returned and Services Association to strike modern services logos from signs it is preparing for Te Awamutu and District War Memorial Park and recognise it as a second World War Memorial.
Dawson asked the signs be period correct.
“You’ve got on the mock up modern logos that are not as of August ’45,” Dawson said.
He said it was given and named by those who returned for those who did not.
Te Awamutu and District War Memorial Park.
“So that does specifically put it at World War II. And they mention that in the dedication. There’s clear evidence to show that the memorial committee of the day did decide that members of each armed service branch would name foot bridges. The park was a recognition of the men who fell in World War II.
“The other issue with that sign is that it should read faithfully Waipa District War Memorial Park because that was the discipline of the day,” Dawson said. “It’s written as Te Awamutu War Memorial Park a lot but from mid-1950 onwards they did sincerely change the name. It was opened as Waipa District War Memorial Park.
Te Awamutu and District War Memorial Park.
But Waipa district councillor and Te Awamutu RSA committee member Lou Brown was “a little bit perplexed’.
“Although you think the memorial park is a repository, the memorial at the RSA is actually much more up to date and inclusive,” Brown said.
“We have researched that and included a lot of names that are not in memorial park from our area of people who died and remained overseas. So, we commemorate that every week with the ode and a remembrance so anybody that wants to, that is the memorial in our RSA.
Te Awamutu and District War Memorial Park.
“It is Waipa and Districts because there are people in there from Kawhia, and Pirongia, and Otorohanga that are included in our area. So, we are a districts RSA not a district.”
Brown said the RSA had sought permission to use the modern logos on the new signage and would have to get further permission to use period accurate logos.
Te Awamutu and District War Memorial Park.
Te Awamutu and District War Memorial Park.
Te Awamutu and District War Memorial Park.
Te Awamutu and District War Memorial Park.
