Bid to keep memory alive

A family’s fight to make sure a Kiwi soldier killed in Vietnam is never forgotten could result in his story becoming a permanent fixture of Foxton’s Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom.

Horowhenua District Council officials are considering creating a display at the multicultural centre and museum to honour Stuart Ellwood after the decision to offload the Foxton Memorial Hall cast doubt on what will happen to a room there named in his memory.

Ellwood, a 20-year-old gunner, was killed on Waitangi Day, 1968, during the Tet Offensive. In 1994, the former library in the hall was renamed the ‘‘Stuart Ellwood Room’’, but his family were this year aghast to learn the future of the hall was uncertain after the council decided it no longer wanted the earthquake-prone building.

Since then, Ellwood’s family have been in talks with councillors and officials about a suitable replacement.

Ellwood’s sister Ngaire Newland said the idea for a display at Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom ‘‘sounds good to me’’.

‘‘But I would prefer it to be more than just a static display. At present we’ve got a room and it stays there. A display can be packed up and put away.’’

Newland would like whatever was decided to honour her brother to be permanent, and to include the story of Shannon soldier Peter Rauhihi, who was killed in Vietnam in 1969.

Newland and her family were unhappy they only learned of the council decision to offload the memorial hall from a newspaper ad.

It was contained in the council’s Long-term Plan, which Newland acknowledges she could have read, but she would have liked someone to let her know of the plan.

Councillor Ross Brannigan, who represents Foxton’s Kere Kere ward, wants to see Ellwood’s story told in Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom. He said he was looking at options with the council’s chief executive David Clapperton.

‘‘I just think it’s really important to our community to recognise Stuart for his courage and certainly the Ellwood family and, I think, with the potential for the hall to change ownership it’s important to look for other options,’’ he said.

‘‘He’s the last known Foxton resident to die in combat. It’s quite a moving story. It’s part of Foxton’s furniture.’’

Whatever was decided would be discussed with Ellwood’s family before a final decision was made.