Heroes ‘were never fully thanked’
Tribute event likely survivors’ last shot at meeting rescuers, says trust chief
Dozens of family members of Wahine disaster victims and survivors will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the tragedy at events in Wellington tomorrow.
Of the 734 people on the ferry, which sank in the entrance to Wellington Harbour on April 10, 1968, 51 died at the time. One died of injuries weeks later and another in 1990.
The lead organiser of tomorrow’s events, the Wahine 50 Charitable Trust, says survivors told it: “many, many people who assisted them and, in many cases, risked their own lives . . . have never been fully acknowledged”.
The trust does not view this as an official oversight.
It is simply that in the confusion of the disaster there was often little opportunity for survivors to express thanks to the ferry crews, police, soldiers, boat owners, fishermen, local residents and others who helped.
While some survivors who identified their rescuers have kept in con-
Hnzherald.co.nz To see the full Wahine disaster presentation 6.30am Dawn service, Wahine Memorial, Eastbourne 7.30-8.30am Wellington Community Choir performs songs reminiscent of those sung by the Wahine passengers. Wellington Railway Station From 8.30am Memorabilia at Muritai School, Eastbourne tact, others are still trying to learn who was involved.
“This is probably the last chance to do that,” trust chairman and former Defence Force chief Rhys Jones said.
He said since many of the survivors were now elderly, tomorrow’s 50th anniversary would probably be the last big national remembrance day
for the disaster. Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will attend some events. Jones said the Government had not contributed financially to tomorrow’s events, although the Hutt and Wellington city councils had contributed. Jones said it “would have been nice” to have more support and some funding from the Government. “The survivors would have liked a bit more.” The Gov- 10am-8.30pm Exhibition and talks. Wellington Museum, Queens Wharf 11.30am-4.30pm Search and rescue display, Shed 6, Queens Wharf 11.30am-12pm Remembrance at Frank Kitts Park. Orpheus Choir 12-12.45pm Flotilla tribute at Frank Kitts Park memorial 3.30-5pm Wahine display at Seatoun School ernment in 2014 ranked the 50th anniversary of the Wahine disaster as being of “tier 2” significance.
The Ministry of Culture and Heritage says tier 1 anniversaries commemorate events “which had a significant impact on the nation as a whole or on the pattern of New Zealand life ...
“The tier 2 list is made up of anniversaries of events which were highly important but not of the same nation-changing magnitude”.
This year’s tier 1 events will mark the 125th anniversary of women’s suffrage and the centenaries of the World War I armistice and the Battle of Le Quesnoy.
A spokeswoman for the ministry said it had provided historical materials, advice, information and promotional support for the Wahine commemoration, but not “further financial assistance”.
A number of commemoration events and presentations have been held through the decades.
In 1969, the Royal Humane Society of New Zealand presented a gold medal to then Prime Minister Keith Holyoake to commemorate the bravery of all Wahine rescuers.
The society also presented a gold medal to the police force in recognition of the heroic life-saving efforts of officers in the disaster.
The transtasman Historical Medal Society presented silver medals to organisations and individuals who had distinguished themselves in the rescue.
Five hundred matching bronze medals were sold to the public to fund the building of a Wahine memorial on the Wellington Harbour foreshore.
The Wahine disaster led to the creation of the Wellington Volunteer Coastguard and an air-rescue service.
One of tomorrow’s events, the “Are you prepared” display, organised by the Search and Rescue Council and the trust, will highlight the importance of rescue services.
Jones said New Zealand was prone to big disasters and relied on volunteer rescue organisations.