Street signs get poppies in remembrance
Fallen soldiers have been remembered across Tasman district in various ways, including the naming of streets and buildings, the planting of trees and the installation of monuments.
In time for the centenary on Sunday of the signing of the armistice that ended the fighting between Germany and the Allies during World War I, Tasman District Council will install street signs acknowledging the service of fallen soldiers from Richmond.
The move comes after the Richmond Waimea RSA asked the council to take part in the Poppy Places project, by adding poppies to street signs named after fallen soldiers.
Tasman Mayor Richard Kempthorne said the council was proud to be part of the project.
‘‘The poppy is an instantly recognisable symbol that will ensure their sacrifice is not forgotten,’’ he said.
Richmond-Waimea RSA president Ross Norgate has been a Richmond resident for more than 60 years, and said he was aware of the history of the street names.
‘‘But over time, the memory of who our streets were named for fades, and adding the poppy is a powerful way to flag the significance of these places for future generations.
‘‘It brings the family names, the history, back to the fore.’’
The addition of the poppies might raise questions and prompt people to find out about the soldiers after whom the streets were named, Norgate said.
On its website, the Poppy Places charitable trust says it believes there are perhaps 3000 places named after fallen soldiers which, if left to history, may disappear from the collective consciousness.
As well as a poppy on each street sign, individual stories will be captured and stored at poppyplaces.nz.
The Richmond street signs to be marked with a poppy are Arnold Savage Place, Challies Way, Cropp Place, Field Place, Giblin St, Herbert St, Mason Place, Polglase St, Roeske St, Wilde Ave, Wilkinson Place, Win Place and Windleborn Place.
‘‘It brings the family names, the history, back to the fore.’’ Ross Norgate, RichmondWaimea RSA president