New garden, members as RSA marks 100 years
A new garden in the shape of a Victoria Cross will be a permanent reminder of South Taranaki’s most famous war heroes.
The garden, which will feature statues of VC recipients John Gilroy Grant and Henry John Laurent, is a centennial project for the South Taranaki RSA, which celebrates its 100th birthday this year.
‘‘It’s really unusual for a town the size of Ha¯ wera to have two VC recipients,’’ RSA office manager Jill Williams said.
The memorial is being created on an island of South Taranaki District Council land next to King Edward Park and close to streets named after the two men, who were both awarded the VC in 1918.
Grant won the Victoria Cross on Bancourt Ridge, France, on September 1, 1918 when he and Lance- Corporal C T Hill attacked and took a German machine-gun position that was holding up the advance.
Laurent was awarded the Victoria Cross in September 1918 for conspicuous bravery, skill and enterprise during the Kiwi assault on Trescault Spur.
The new garden will be officially opened with a parade followed by a ceremony and blessing on September 15.
Invitations for the opening were going out to the Government, Ministry of Defence and also the French and Australian embassies, as well as to the Taranaki community, Williams said.
The project is being funded by TSB Community Trust, which has given $27,000, along with $5000 from Veterans Affairs, $5000 from the Taranaki Patriotic Trust, $1000 from the Ha¯wera Genealogy Society and $5000 from the RSA.
It is shaping up to be a busy year for the organisation, which has had 55 new members join since last Anzac Day.
‘‘It’s great that we are having a renewing of interest. I think people like to be able to go somewhere for a quiet drink, whether it’s alcoholic or not, and and have a conversation where there’s no distractions, it’s just a familyfriendly atmosphere,’’ president Graeme Kempton said.
‘‘You don’t have to have served to join. If you can say your grandfather or great-grandfather served, if you have that affiliation, that’s a good thing.
‘‘People like to belong to a club that has some meaning.’’
Anzac Day commemorations have started early in Ha¯ wera, with the RSA’s annual pop-up shop already open in High St, and a new mural being unveiled and blessed on Saturday at 3.30pm.
Wars that New Zealand has been involved in over the past 100 years are depicted on the walls of the RSA building.
The mural, which was partly funded by the STDC’s Creative Communities fund, was created by Whanganui artist Dan Mills.
On April 22, the club will host participants of a Ride for Remembrance by motorcyclists around the mountain, and there is a concert by the Ha¯ wera Brass and Pipe Bands the same day.
Anzac Day services will be held around the district on April 25 and in November the club will round off its own celebrations with a centennial dinner the evening before the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day on November 11.