Cenotaph restoration work thanks

Arrowtown RSA president Lindsay Stirling with RSA members and representatives from some of the 22 businesses and organisations which assisted with the recent restoration of the town's cenotaph.  PHOTO:  TRACEY ROXBURGH
Arrowtown RSA president Lindsay Stirling with RSA members and representatives from some of the 22 businesses and organisations which assisted with the recent restoration of the town's cenotaph. PHOTO: TRACEY ROXBURGH
The Arrowtown cenotaph has been restored, after a two-year labour of love.

Last week the association invited members and representatives from the 22 businesses and organisations which assisted with funding, supplies and in-kind support for the cenotaph restoration - completed in time for the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings - to officially thank them.

Builder Gary Chalmers, who was involved in the restoration, said the project wouldn't have got off the ground if it wasn't for members of the community who gave their time to help.

Scaffolding, from Certified Scaffolding, was provided for free, as was concrete from Pumpcrete and stone from Dennison Stone, while the stonework was ''basically done for love'' by Rockatipu Stone's Brent Carr, Mr Chalmers said.

''The supporters ... without them we wouldn't have been able to do what we've done.

''If we added everything up it would easily [have cost] another $10,000 through hirage and things.''

RSA committee member Julie Hughes said the historic listing of the cenotaph - a category 2 protected feature with both Heritage New Zealand and Queenstown's council - made the restoration more difficult.

''We had to use like for like - we had to use the products they would have used back then.

''The only gravel we could get for the cement exterior was through a marae in Moeraki.

''Because it was a marae they didn't want paid for it, so we donated a greenstone piece to them from the Jade & Opal Factory, who gave it to us.''

To get funding a 45-page document was prepared by Jackie Gillies & Associates detailing the restoration, Mrs Hughes said.

That resulted in five grants totalling $80,000 - $40,000 from the Central Lakes Trust; $25,000 from the Lottery Grants Board; $10,000 from the SkyCity Queenstown Community Trust and $5000 from the Community Trust of Southland.

Mr Chalmers began work on the cenotaph in February, with the finishing touches added just before April 25.

''It's probably going to see me out now, I hope. [But] between now and 2018 we can work on other things up there, like landscaping.''

Plans include installing seats on Soldiers Hill and beautifying the area, which was fenced ahead of this year's service.

''If the council [is] willing to come on board, as a community and the RSA we want to beautify it a bit more.''

Arrowtown RSA president Lindsay Stirling told guests last Thursday the association appreciated the ''huge effort'' and generosity shown for the project, which would ''still be standing on Soldiers Hill for another 90 years''.

Add a Comment

 

Advertisement