Tawa Historical Society Incorporated
The Tawa Historian
Newsletter #16 – July 2008
Dear Members,
It is now mid 2008, and time for another newsletter. Since the last one, in January of this year, a number of projects have been completed, and more are proceeding nicely, so it will be good to keep you up to date.
Projects completed this year
Lest Tawa Forgets has been published, was launched at the Tawa RSA just before Anzac Day, and is selling well. Of the 200 printed, only about 30 remain. They are on sale at the Tawa Library at $20 each.
The Memorial Oak Tree plaque was unveiled by the current principal of Tawa School on Anzac Day. A good crowd of members and others attended the event. It was a pleasure to have the Patron of the Tawa RSA present also.
We reprinted 20 copies of the Historical Atlas of Tawa, and all but 2 or 3 have been sold.
Continuing Projects
The Tawa Memorial sub committee is continuing its work. We now have draft plans, and an architect’s sketch of what the Memorial might look like. We are awaiting a schedule of what estimated costs might be from a quantity surveyor. Then we will release details publicly, asking for feedback on the proposal. Even at this stage we have been offered support from community organizations.
The effort to place an information board in Grasslees Reserve is nearing its conclusion. The City Council is at the point of finalizing the wording before having the board made. Hopefully, within three months the board will be in place. It will give the public information about Grasslees farm, and about Elsdon Best.
The information board for the Tawa Cemetery is at a similar point, and should be also ready in about three months. There is a little more to do at the cemetery, particularly relating to a structure to hold the board. Information to be found on the board will include how the land came to be a cemetery; the names of those buried; and a plan of the cemetery. A southern fence for the site has now been finished, so the cemetery is completely enclosed. It still needs a major ‘facelift’ however.
Work continues on Best of Tawa Vol. 2, and it is on target for publication in Oct/Nov ’08. A similar situation applies to a booklet we wish to produce in our Historical Series on the Tawa Cemetery. We hope it will be available at the same time that the WCC finishes its current plans for the Cemetery. It will go into detail about the history of both the land and of those who are buried in it.
Phil Harland’s booklet, No.1 in our Historical Series, on the US Marines’ ammunition dump in Takapu Road has sold well, and there are not many copies left. They are also available from the Tawa Library.
Two new ventures
One of our members, David Parsons, produced a manuscript on the railway through Tawa, and we were both surprised and delighted to receive it. Unknown to David, I had just completed a draft manuscript on the original Tawa Flat Railway station. When our Executive considered this situation, it seemed sensible and logical to combine efforts, and David has worked to this end to produce work which will be called Rails through the Valley. This is the first time a member has taken the initiative to produce what is necessary for publication, and we are very pleased indeed. May others attempt to emulate him!
Mike Steer has also picked up the task of producing a history of the old Bartlett Farmhouse, now the home of the Suttons at 26 Oxford Street. Mike is uncovering interesting material going back to the village from which the Bartlett settler family left to come to NZ. This will be another in our Historical Series. We have had discussions with the Suttons also, and are grateful to them for their support.
Tawa History Week: 4 – 8 August 2008
We have great pleasure, in conjunction with the Tawa Library, in announcing a new annual event in the life of Tawa. Some time ago we put a proposal to the Library, suggesting they host, and we provide the programme, for an annual History Week. Our proposal was received with enthusiasm, and will take place in the week noted above. Please mark it in your diaries. The programme will run as follows:
10.15 – 10.30am each day – a cup of tea/coffee.
10.30 – 11.30am either a talk / lecture (probably 3 or 4 of these) or an historical walk within Tawa (1 or 2 of these),
after which the programme will conclude.
Secretary / Treasurer of THS
Bill Hinkley has given sterling service to our Society since its inception in 2001-02, and thanks to his wise and skilled handling of matters financial, we are in sound shape. Bill has given our Executive notice that he will be standing down from his roles at this year’s AGM. We are anxious to fill these positions at the AGM so that the work of the THS may continue smoothly. I would be very grateful (as would Bill) to hear from any member who could assist us in this position. Preferably we would like to see the position as it is at the moment split into two. That would ease the workload and make things much more manageable. If you can help us, please give the matter serious thought, and contact Bill (232 4327) or me (232 5374) as soon as possible.
Speaking of the AGM, this is set down for Monday 1st September – more details later.
New Box Number
As part of Bill’s relinquishing the posts of Secretary and Treasurer, the society has purchased its own box number, so in future our address is now, Tawa Historical Society, PO Box 56-076, Tawa, Wellington 5249.
Bruce Murray
Chairman
Tawa Historical Society