Soldier’s memorial in jeopardy

The family of a Kiwi soldier killed in Vietnam are determined to keep his memory alive as the future of a memorial in his name is uncertain.

Horowhenua District Council’s decision to offload the Foxton Memorial Hall casts doubt on what will happen to a room there named in memory of Stuart Ellwood.

The 20-year-old gunner was killed on Waitangi Day, 1968, during the deadly Tet Offensive. In 1994, at the suggestion of the Foxton RSA, the former library in the hall was renamed the ‘‘Stuart Ellwood Room’’.

‘‘We were absolutely delighted.

‘‘We thought that was a wonderful gesture,’’ Ellwood’s sister Ngaire Newland said.

‘‘We thought that was something that would be there forever, or at least for our lifetime.’’

This year though, in its Longterm Plan deliberations, the council decided it no longer wanted the hall. It’s not yet known exactly what fate awaits the earthquake-prone structure on Main St, scene of many weddings, public meetings and 21st birthday parties.

Newland, who now lives in Whanganui, but owns property at Foxton Beach, said the family wasn’t told about the move and she only learned of it this month in a newspaper ad.

She acknowledges she could have read the Long-term Plan, but thought few people would.

‘‘The thing is, it’s a small place and I know some of the community board people and I’ve been on the board myself and I thought someone could have said: ‘Ngaire, have a look at the plan’.’’

She has voiced her concerns to the council and will this week meet with Kere Kere ward

councillor Ross Brannigan and chief executive David Clapperton.

Newland hoped officials would have an idea about what could be done about the situation.

She wonders if an appropriate alternative could be found to take her brother’s name and said she was pleased the council was now keeping her updated.

Brannigan said he and Clapperton were ‘‘committed to working with the family for a satisfactory outcome that continues to recognise Stuart’’.

The council’s people and community group manager Sharon Grant said the Long-term Plan would be adopted next week and the council would ‘‘not be taking any action to progress this until the [plan] is adopted’’.

Although the council had decided not to retain the hall, which opened in 1954, what would happen to it was not yet known.

‘‘[The] council acknowledges that its halls hold some historical significance, including status as war memorials,’’ Grant said.

Grant said the council would welcome suggestions from Ellwood’s family about how else to honour his name.

She didn’t directly answer Stuff’s question about why Ellwood’s family wasn’t consulted about the move to offload the hall, saying only: ‘‘[The] council undertook a district-wide consultation process through its 2018-2038 Long-term Plan consultation.

‘‘This included specific reference to the proposed disposal of Foxton Memorial Hall.’’

Returned and Services Association national vice-chairman Bob Hill, who served with Ellwood, said war memorial halls commemorated the dead of World War II and, in this case, Vietnam, as cenotaphs did for WWI.

Hill wanted to see some sort of public memorial for Ellwood if the room were to go.