Admiring the information panel about their late father, Dr
Peter Snow, are his three sons (from left), Alistair,
holding Evie (2), Adrian and Jules, who unveiled the panel
at a ceremony in Tapanui on Saturday. Photo by Glenn
Conway.
The late Dr Peter Snow would have been "absolutely
chuffed" to see the information panel unveiled in his memory,
one of his three sons said at a ceremony in Tapanui on Saturday
morning.
About 100 people, many of whom worked with Dr Snow during his
35 years as Tapanui's sole GP, attended the event, the
culmination of years of considering how the West Otago
community could commemorate and celebrate a man who gave so
much to the area.
His three sons, who live in various parts of New Zealand and
in the Middle East, were on hand to unveil the panel, which
stands beside a large chunk of moon rock, representing Dr
Snow's passionate interest in meteorites.
Dr Snow died in February 2006, aged 71.
The panel was developed by the Snow family, Tapanui-West
Otago Promotions and other members of the community.
Tapanui-West Otago Promotions chairman Horace McAuley
described the gathering as a historic occasion and a great
tribute to a man who served West Otago faithfully for three
and a-half decades as a doctor and passionate supporter of
the district.
West Otago ward councillor Jeff McKenzie said Dr Snow was a
special person and it was marvellous the community could
acknowledge him in this way.
One of Dr Snow's sons, Adrian, said the family wanted to
thank the West Otago community for its efforts.
All felt honoured the district's people had made such an
effort to commemorate their father.
Dr Snow served as Tapanui's sole doctor for 37 years and was
a leading medical researcher who helped identify chronic
fatigue syndrome, which later became known as "Tapanui flu".
He was also at the forefront of community efforts to keep
open the former Tapanui hospital.
The moon rock, which stands at the front of panel monument,
represents Dr Snow's belief that moon rock and other material
from a meteor collision with the moon in 1766 was showered
across the West Otago area.
glenn.conway@odt.co.nz
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