Tawa Historical Society Incorporated

The Tawa Historian

Newsletter #4 – 29 July 2002

Activities
Some 30 members attended the meeting of the Tawa Historical Society, held at the former Tawa Borough Council Chambers, now used for regular meetings of the Tawa Committee Board, on the evening of 27 May. Presentations about the Heritage Trail through Tawa by Chris Gaunt, about told school rolls by Pam Edmonds ands about oral histories of people in the Tawa area by Barbara Adams were well received. The Society experts in due course to publish the last mentioned.

An opportunity to share and exchange information during refreshments at the end of the meeting was welcomed by members.

Since then the management committee has met and considered an offer to purchase the scout den at Boscobel Lane but decided that it would not suit the Society’s interests.

Work is under way to develop the Society’s aims and objectives and fine tune some of those previously identified (in Infosheet 1, 22 November 2001).

The Wellington City Council produces a Heritage Trail booklet that covers the Northern Suburbs but does not include Tawa. This is soon to be reprinted. As the Tawa Heritage Trail follows the Old Porirua Road through Tawa, the Society has submitted a draft to the City Council Heritage Department so that a section covering Tawa may be included in future. This draft is expected to form the basis of an expanded and more detailed Tawa Heritage Trail booklet. For example, some of those who lived in Tawa during World War II recall that the United States military established an ammunition deport off Takapu Road which is now within an industrial area in Grenada North. If anyone has any detailed information about this activity during the 1942-45 period, please let the society know.

AGM
All members and prospective members are invited to attend the Tawa historical Society Incorporated 1st Annual General Meeting to be held at 7.30 p.m. on Monday 12 August 2002 at the Community Board (Council) Chambers, Cambridge Street.

All but two members of the committee are willing to offer their services again. However, regretfully for personal family reasons I shall be unable to continue as chairperson. Our treasurer, Allan Todd, is also not seeking re-election. Nomination for these positions on the committee will be welcome.

Later in the evening the Mayor of Wellington, Kerry Prendergast will be welcomed in her role as Patron of the Tawa Historical Society Incorporated. Refreshments will be served at the send of the evening to provide an opportunity for socialising.

Philip Harland
Chairperson