Tawa Historical Society Incorporated

The Tawa Historian

Newsletter #37 – December 2015

Dear Members and Friends,

I have some matters to report to you following our Executive’s final meeting for 2015.

Tawa Memorial
All the necessary plans, quotes and approvals have been finalised; tenders have been called, a price established, and a builder selected. Having completed all the above, we have now applied for funding on two occasions, and have not been successful on either occasion. We have discussed this with our preferred funder, and hope to hear shortly whether or not any application from us has a chance of success. We have pencilled in a meeting earlier than usual for next year to discuss our options regarding the memorial should we continue to be unsuccessful in our bids for funding.

I remind members that this project is not a Tawa Historical Society effort. Rather, we are taking a lead because, as an incorporated society, we can apply for funding. The Tawa Community Board, partners in this community effort cannot, and the Tawa RSA, the other partner, has other matters on its hands.

Our most recent publication
Mike Steer has brought to publication the history of the Ranui Golf Club which existed in Tawa from 1923 to 1929. Its clubhouse was the old Bartlett House, now at 26 Oxford Street. Over half of our printing run has now been sold. The Library has copies on sale at $20 each.

A History of Tawa
Our 2014 book is selling steadily, and about two-thirds of our print run has now been purchased. They are available at the Library for $45.

Out of Print
The following of our publications are now out of print:
The Streets of Tawa (published 2005)
An Historical Atlas of Tawa (2006)
Best of Tawa Vol 2 (2008)
Rails through the Valley (2008)
There is only 1 copy remaining of Phil Harland’s Takapu Ammunition Bunker; 9 copies of Brian Mexted’s Memories of Tawa; 21 copies of Best of Tawa Vol.3; and 23 copies of Lest Tawa Forgets. All our publications make excellent Christmas presents.

Our next publication
Mike Steer has begun working on the history of the Tawa ‘Town Hall’ which existed in Tawa (Flat) from 1933 to 1963. Originally the recreation hall of the Glenside Public Works camp, (which was built to house the tunnellers and workers on the Tawa Flat Railway Deviation built between 1926 and 1935) it was disassembled, transported to Tawa Flat and rebuilt on the site of what is now the Salvation Army’s shop on the corner of the Main Road and Oxford Street. For three decades it was a focal point for community life in Tawa Flat. We may also publish a book related to the many features of historical significance in the area of southern Tawa, in the vicinity of Willowbank Park and its environs.

Our printer
As noted in out March newsletter, since we commenced publishing books on Tawa in 2005, we had them printed by Porirua Print. Our member Karol de Raad produced them for the best part of a decade, before selling his business to Debbie Weaver. At the beginning of this year we learned that the business has again been sold. Having checked out a number of possible printers, we have settled on Excel Digital, a printing company located on Jamaica Drive in Grenada North. They printed the Ranui Golf Club history.

Heritage Trail maps and notes.
During the latter part of this year we worked on updating and improving the two heritage trail maps and notes which were produced some years ago. The assistance of NZ Micrographics is gratefully acknowledged, and Excel has printed both the Northern and Southern Historical Trails. They are available at the Library. When we initially produced them, we made them available free of charge, and people could help themselves to as many as they wanted. It was a service to the public that we were happy to make. However, the cost of printing the new edition of the maps is such that we can no longer supply them in such a liberal way. We have suggested to the staff at the Library that a small charge - 10cents per copy - should be made, with the Library keeping that money for their own purposes, in recognition of the assistance they provide to us in selling our books.

Additional member of the THS Executive
It has been a pleasure to welcome Gil Roper to our recent Executive meetings. Gill has a background in teaching (the sciences mostly), and has produced work in particular on the tawa tree. He is thinking perhaps of a different kind of publication, combining material on belschmiedia tawa with some history and information on Tawa’s tree reserves, such as the Wilf Mexted Reserve, the reserve at the top of Larsen Crescent, or that near Brasenose Place.

Thanks.
My thanks to my colleagues of the THS Executive, and in particular the Ken Woodgate, our Secretary, and Bill Hinkley, our Treasurer, who carry a continuing burden. Other members have particular responsibilities and I thank them also. As a Society, it is my view that we ‘punch above our weight’, and contribute positively to the community spirit of Tawa which makes it such an attractive place in which to live.

Christmas Greetings to you all, and kind regards,