War and medicine captivate at Aratoi

Owen Prior and director Alice Hutchison are proud to be associated with the Norman Prior: Masterton Doctor at War exhibition open at Aratoi. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

Historical and creative forces have teamed up to create the captivating and original war exhibit that opened on Friday at Aratoi Museum.

Aratoi Director Alice Hutchison said the museum has worked together with Neil Frances and Wairarapa Archive and Craig Turvey from 3D Creative to bring to life the tale of Masterton GP Norman Prior, who joined the New Zealand Medical Corps for service in 1915.

Medical instruments including skull drilling instruments (centre) are all part of the exhibition. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

"For a relatively small-scale exhibition, it has taken several months to organise," she said.

"Raising funds for production costs, Neil's extensive and in-depth research, editing text and selecting images, film transfers, securing numerous loans, Craig's interpretation and design, then production.

"We've been scouring the region to find potential loans so, for example, we've got original WWI field dressing from the RSA in Carterton."

The exhibit highlights are Prior's war medals, including the Military Cross, surgical instruments on loan from Cobblestones, original WWI film footage, photograph albums and writings that portray the narrative of Norman Prior and the Great War.

Norman Prior, Masterton GP, left his surgery and an infant in 1915 to join the New Zealand Medical Corps for service in World War I.

Dr Prior was awarded a Military Cross at the Somme in 1916 and after further service in France and Belgium, he joined the medical staff at No1 NZ General Hospital at Brockenhurst, Hampshire, England, looking after New Zealand wounded and sick soldiers.

He returned to civilian life as a doctor in Masterton in 1919.

Mr Turvey said the space chosen for the exhibit helps to illustrate that story.

"I'm just taking advantage of the large windows and the natural daylight that comes into this space- so just working with that.

"It's a challenging space, but one that defines what we're doing here.

"With Norman Prior's family, it's neat because they all stayed within the medical profession," he said.

"There have been a lot of Prior GPs in this town.

"There would be heaps of Mastertonians who have had Prior as their GP."

Ms Hutchison said she was pleased to be able to thank the Prior family in this unique way for their contributions to the community and Aratoi.

"It was a commitment to produce this exhibition as a dedication to the Prior family, and to acknowledge not just Norman's contribution, but the contribution of the Prior family to this institution over the years.

"This is one of the small tributes- to the Prior family to acknowledge their contributions to the community and the fact that Norman actually came back to Masterton and looked after so many people subsequently."

Dr Prior established the Masterton Methodist Children's Home in 1921.

He remained a family doctor in Masterton until his retirement in 1962 and his son Owen followed him as medical advisor.

Dr Prior was one of three of Norman's children and is in the process of documenting his family's history.

"I'm Norman's son, yes. I'm the last of the team.

"War is a strange business," he said. "You get a lot further from talking to people than shooting them.

"But every now and again some crank comes along and away they go.

"And that, unfortunately, is a bit inevitable."

The Norman Prior: Masterton Doctor at War exhibition runs until October 4.