WWII refugees’ stories to be told
Project to trace lives of displaced persons gets grant
Aproject to tell the stories of World War II refugees who settled in Palmerston North has received a financial boost.
Untold Stories will share people’s war experiences and why they became displaced persons. It will cover their selection and trip to New Zealand on refugee ships, time at the Pah¯ıatua Camp, and settling into New Zealand during an assimilation immigration policy.
The project has received $12,000 from the Earle Creativity and Development Trust.
Project leader Tania Kopytko says Untold Stories’ purpose is to write about an unknown part of New Zealand’s history.
The writers are Susie Tsaclis (Romania), Bruno Petrenas (Lithuania), Mary Zambazos (Greece), Mychelle Mihailoff (Bulgaria), and Kopytko (Belarus and Latvia).
They were all born in Palmerston North of World War II refugee parents and know each other from school, university or through family links.
The seventh story will be about the refugee process at that time and the role of the Pah¯ıatua Camp in preparing the refugees for a productive life in New Zealand.
An exhibition will be held at Square Edge Arts Centre in July and there will be presentations and workshops to encourage others to research and write their stories.
In 2025, in conjunction with the Pah¯ıatua Museum, there will be a reunion of children of the displaced persons.
The Earle Trust has granted the Renaissance Singers $8800 for the creation of works for its May 18 concert Far Out! Godwits, Guitars and Songsters.
Guitarist Matthew Marshall will take a workshop with guitar students who will then perform at the concert.
Ma¯tairangi Mahi Toi Ma¯ori received $3200 for artist in residence
Theia to run a three-day workshop and recording session in Palmerston North for rangatahi.
Zak Rodgers received $3000 for The Cure for Gravity, a collection of poetry and short stories.
Paula Allen received $7000 to publish Hope Defiant, a collection of her poems she typed on an iPad.
Manawatu¯ Scottish Pipe Band is celebrating its centenary in 2025 and received $5800 for the publication of its history. The book will be launched at the Jenny Mair Highland Square
Day in December 2024.
The band was founded by pipe major Victor Nicholson, a Gallipoli veteran.
Homegrown Woodcraft, which will tell the story of the Manawatu¯ Woodworkers Guild, received $7000. The book will cover the guild’s history from its first meeting in 1986 with five interested woodworkers.
Centrepoint Theatre received $10,000 for a play about the Feilding Farmers’ Market to be written by Alison Quigan. Centrepoint general manager Kate Louise Elliott says something as seemingly simple as a farmers’ market holds many secrets and triumphs as well as catastrophes and fiascos that only Quigan could turn into an entertaining night at the theatre.
Dr Darryn Joseph has transitioned from being an associate professor at
Massey University to fulltime writer.
Auckland University Press director Sam Elworthy says Joseph is one of the quiet rangatira of te reo Ma¯ori literature.
He has published more than 20 books and he has also written numerous resources for immersion education. Joseph was the te reo Ma¯ori editor for AUP’s Hiwa: Contemporary a¯ori Short Stories.
Joseph received $5300 from the Earle Trust for his writing projects. He has been proud to call Manawatu¯ home for more than two decades and looks forward to continuing working here as a creative mind and author. Next year, is the 20th anniversary of his sci-fi chapter books RT3 he wrote under the pen name Ta¯kuta Ho¯ hepa.
Gumboots, Brass and Wind Ensemble received $7000 for music tuition and a showcase weekend at Bulls in April.
Palmerston North composer Sai Shravan Natarajanm received $10,650 for a new orchestral work for the Manawatu¯ Sinfonia.
The Salvation Army’s Just Brass programme, which provides music lessons to children, received $20,000. Co-founder of the trust, Dick Earle, says it is driven by the idea creativity can be stimulated, encouraged and taught.
“It’s a good thing to be involved in, I think, especially in declining years.” People are creative irrespective of anything anyone else does but a pattern of activity can be stimulated, the 93-year-old says. “One’s life is limited but the ideas are not.”
Grants for seven history and literature projects totalling $50,100 were made for 2023, while $49,640 was given to five music projects. The trust received 17 applications for history and literature projects seeking $100,000 between them, while 12 music applicants sought $140,000. This year, the trust will make grants for science, technology and visual arts.
The Napier Rd entrance to the Manawatu¯ River shared pathway on the outskirts of Palmerston North is likely to be closed until May.
Palmerston North City Council is improving the stormwater infrastructure along Gasworks Drain, which connects Napier Rd to the shared pathway.
Council staff have been preparing the ground for a specialist digger to start work.
The stormwater drain will be widened to improve the capacity of the stormwater catchment area that services Kelvin Grove, council three waters group manager Mike Monaghan said.
The walkway alongside the drain is narrow and heavy machinery is required to carry out the work.
“We understand this will inconvenience recreational users trying to access the shared river pathway,” Monaghan said.
The Ruamahanga Cres entrance downstream from the work and the Te Matai Rd entrance upstream remain open.
The bridge over the drain is also open, so people can still walk and cycle the length of the river pathway.
The entranceway is likely to be closed until May and a 30km/h speed restriction is currently in place along that section of Napier Rd.
The council is working closely with Rangita¯ne to ensure the upgraded stormwater system incorporates new fish beds and spawning areas. Rangita¯ne has relocated fish from the area.
Once the work is completed, they will release fish back into the improved environment.
“These upgrades are essential due to the increasing residential development in Kelvin Grove.
“The upgraded stormwater system will significantly improve the capacity to store stormwater before it flows into the river,” Monaghan said.
The drain’s name comes from the coal-fired gasworks that operated on Napier Rd from 1923 to 1970.
Kelvin Grove’s residential development is currently centred on either side of James Line, with the names of new streets including Serenity Cres, Magnolia Lane and Rangeview Drive.
Also off James Line is the council subdivision, Tamakuku Tce.
This week’s mystery photo from Manawatu¯ Heritage’s website is of an unidentified piece of machinery and tap crafted by Berry Engineering.
Berry Engineering was established in 1907 in Palmerston North by Edwin Berry.
It manufactured a wide variety of industrial equipment and was particularly involved with the dairy industry.
More than 1700 images on the website are unidentified, and the Palmerston North
City Library is seeking help to name the people, places and events featured in these mystery photos.