Park spruce-up would honour fallen
Major remodelling not needed, says passionate local
Marc Dawson is passionate about the Te Awamutu and District War Memorial Park. If you remember it was Marc who got the Peace Fountain flowing again in 2018 and saved it from being demolished by the council.
Marc has done extensive research on the history of the park and made a substantial submission to Council on proposals under consultation.
A brief summary of the main points follow, a web address to see the research and submission in full is at the end of the article.
Marc says the entire park was designed, funded, built and dedicated as a war memorial.
“No further concept is required. The park is a memorial complex,” he says.
“In June 2018 Waipa Council decided in error to permanently remove the central footbridge and also an alleged non-functioning fountain along with it.
“This decision was made without knowledge of their symbolic meaning and purpose or understanding the parks heritage.
“Removing either of these memorial features should never have even been considered,” he says.
He says there is a misconception that the Sunken Cross alone is the memorial, however, that is not the case.
The original scheme was simply to have memorial gates to a park but it was found the concept qualified for a pound for pound Government subsidy and the concept was expanded.
At one stage it even included housing birds and monkeys as an attraction at the park.
The three footbridges, between Mutu St and the netball court end, commemorate the service of the Navy, Airforce and Army.
The Peace Fountain, the Peace Roses within the Sunken Cross of Memory, the Semi-Sunken Garden with the historic mural wall depicting the coming together of Ma¯ ori and Pakeha, the three memorial archways over the columned pergola, that curves around the sunken cross to dignify it, are all part of the memorial.
”The entire park is a dedicated war memorial.
“It provides a facility that enables comfort and peace that was fought for,” says Marc.
Arthur Warburton served on the committee that established the park from inception to completion. As owner and editor of the Te
Awamutu Courier, he made land available for the park through Couriers (NZ) Ltd and was clear about the symbolic vision of the park’s objective.
RSA president Gerald Gower was quoted in the newspaper of the day.
“When this park is completed it will be a living tribute to those gallant men who gave their lives that we may enjoy freedom and prosperity.
“We owe it to them, to our generation, and to generations to come to provide a suitable memorial so that we will remember the sacrifice they made. It will be something of which we can be proud — something that will be in keeping and harmony with the principles of those who died.
“We want the park to be a memorial of which we can be justly proud.”
The concept was designed by Harold Babbage, inspired by overseas concepts.
When it was opened in 1955 mayor Fred Parsons said it was “truly emblematic-distinctive, and for all time preserving its symbolic meaning”.
“They could not allow it to deteriorate. The park was a unique one of its type and it was essential that it should be maintained.”
Marc has gone to great lengths to make constructive proposals for various features of the park.
Many have been previously discussed, but the lake is an area that is dividing opinion.
Marc says the lake can be saved and believes a drought, combined with years of blocked and neglected road drains and failed jet fountains, should not be followed with a resolve to remove the lake.
He says there are options to enhance the lake’s water quality and biodiversity.
The three road drains should all be connected to the lake to help with flow.
Only one has been assisting the lake for many years.
Using water aeration pump fountains in the lake would better assist lake water quality than the basic jet ones.
He says water aeration pumps greatly assist water quality and are not expensive to install or operate.
The existing pump can continue to operate the waterfall which also assists aeration. The submerged pump can be situated within the lake so as not to shut down when the water level drops.
The North-West upper lake edge probably needs resealing.
The present overflow level seems to be higher than originally and could be optionally lowered to allow more frequent flushing.
Selected trees with leaf fall could be pruned or removed.
Water from the Mangaohoi stream could be pumped up into the lake during drought.
Water being returned to the stream via the lakes discharge outlet would then be constant and of an improved quality with aeration from the jet fountains and waterfall.
He says the best sentiment comes from those who knew and those who built the park — which we can see by reading the history.
“That is our heritage to cherish and value, not to remodel or re-concept.”