Know your town

Soldier’s Memorial Park

Soldier’s Memorial Park is the greased area of Martin Square which the original buildings: Evans, Pains, WFCA, the Post office and pubs all addressed. In 1899 the son of the Town founder, also John Martin, gave twenty five pound to have the park fenced off in four sections and the roads which ran through it paved. The sections were planted in pine, native and a few English trees.

In 1905 Waihenga and Martinborough were combined and a Town Board formed. At the time town dignitaries planted four trees – but set no plaque to mark the occasion.

Early in 1921 the roads were closed and a fence inclosing the Square erected. The ANZAC Gates at Kitchener Street were dedicated on 16th Oct 1921. There were small wooden gates on the other three sides. A newspaper clip of the time recorded: ‘ Beautifying Society members planted a great number of trees and hedge plants in readiness for the event. Mr. M Smith did a tremendous job of looking after the pants, and was commended for such along with the people doing the work. They call it the Soldier’s memorial Park’.

Between 1957 -58 a number of Acacias and other trees in poor condition were removed followed by the fence and hedge. In the 1990s the Beautifying Society planted more trees and by 1995 all the native trees had been removed. To mark fifty years since VJ Day and the end of the Second World War peace roses were planted around the cenotaph.

By 2005 the Park was in bad shape. Branches had been allowed to grow too low obscuring thew view across the park, the water system had been punctured by tent pegs and there was large areas where the grass had died. A group for people thought enough is enough and so renovation work started focusing on a quarter of the park each year.

With expert aborist, Ed Martin’s, advice dead and low branches were removed, old stumps dug up and ground rota hoed. Former council foreman Alan Murray helped locate the old water pipes and the sprinkler system repaired. The long defunct underground lights were replaced with new multi coloured ones sourced from Germany by David Patten.

Last Autumn on a walk through the park with grand children one said “ remember the hard work and all the fun we had doing it?” That comment made it all worth while.

Recently a member of the public asked me why trees in the park were being cut down. I went to the Council Office, and when I eventually was able to get to talk to somebody, I was told some trees were are in the way, some on a lean, some a danger to the public, others removed to let the light in. The obvious questions; what about replacement trees? What about local knowledge? I was told that every thing was being done ‘by the book’. That council had a strict policy on trees; what, where and when. So much for local knowledge or preferences.

So people of the district – get accustomed to it. With amalgamation will come more rooms for some to hide in, it will only get worse. Enjoy our Soldier’s Memorial Park while you can.
Mate Higginson