Damage to memorial gates ‘disrespectful’

The actions of vandals, who damaged the wrought iron memorial gates at Carisbrook School over the school holidays, have been disappointing for the school community and the man behind the gates’ refurbishment last year.

Carisbrook School principal Bruce James said, as the school holidays were beginning, the latch on the inner gate at the old Caversham School Memorial Archway broke, leaving a metal pipe exposed. He believes this was later used to bash the hand-made poppies on the memorial gates — breaking one.

"It’s very disappointing and very disrespectful that someone would damage these historic gates," Mr James said.

For several months last year, Dunedin man Charlie Boyes put his skills, time and money into upgrading the gates that once graced the Caversham School Memorial Archway in a project supported by the Otago Military History Group and the Carisbrook School community.

The spruced-up gates and archway, which lists the names of 40 local men who gave their lives during World War 1 in honour of their "patriotism and heroic services", was unveiled in a ceremony on Armistice Day, November 11.

Among the names listed is that of Mr Boyes’ great-uncle Lieutenant Andrew Colquhoun Boyes, who served at Gallipoli with the Otago Infantry Regiment and was killed in action on the Western Front in 1916, aged 24.

Mr Boyes said he kept an eye on the memorial gates and was unhappy to see the pointless damage earlier in the week.

"The lack of respect for the gates and the purpose of the memorial itself is upsetting," he said.

"And now, we will have to go through the process to repairing them again and having a new poppy made, which is quite a nuisance."

Mr James said unfortunately, there had been quite a lot of vandalism in the Caversham area recently, including a nearby church having windows broken.

Carisbrook School itself had had the wires from a newly installed set of heat pumps cut and stolen recently, resulting in extra time and expense as a contractor had to rewire them.

"It’s frustrating that someone would do that for about $30 worth of wire," he said.

However, on the positive side, the school was also celebrating the recent completion of an $800,000 upgrade of its school hall, with support from the Otago Community Trust, Lotteries and the school board.

"We are very excited about our new school hall, and are looking forward to sharing it with the community," he said.

brenda.harwood@thestar.co.nz