Letter to the Editor - Tuesday November 6, 2012

Repairing the angel

I feel a little bit more should be added on Raymond Beatson's efforts to repair the marble statue in Remembrance Park, Kaitaia.

I congratulate him for stepping forward and taking on such a large task.

He is not alone in this and has three other Vietnam Veterans (ex-Kaitaia College) and two rank outsiders helping him. The veterans are me, David Russell and Arthur Simeon.

Donation boxes have been made and will feature on shop counters, along with the brief history of the Angel, from today.

The target to reach is in excess of $50,000 and with the help of other organisations we hope to reach that figure in time for the sculptor to do his work.

This statue was the foresight of a prominent local Maori chief, Leopold Busby, who bought and paid £75 and had it shipped from Italy for £8 out of his own pocket.

This is a monument to remember those who, on the dark side of warfare, were literally blown to bits, gassed and scarred forever.

This monument should have been repaired long before this by the local RSA.

Their interest has been nil. "It would cost too much. No one can fix it."

Strange how they can spend $150,000 on a large concrete skateboard park at the back of their building but cannot afford to fix a 100-year-old memorial.

We have 2 years to raise the funds. We believe with the help of the people of the Mangonui County we will get there.

THE THIRD VETERAN

Kaitaia