Three Acres and some Amputees

[b] THREE ACRES AND SOME AMPUTEES[/b] A three acres park at Taieri Mouth, formed out of what was once gorse, broom and lupin infested sand hills is the result of 13 years work by members of the Otago and Southland War Amputees’ Association. What is now a flat well grassed playing area known to many Dunedin residents who spend summer days there, first became a possibility in 1949 when eight acres of land at Taieri Mouth were donated to the Association by Miss Joan Green. It was given for the purpose of promoting a picnic area for war amputees, war disabled, their widows and families. The rolling sandhills were overgrown with gorse, broom and lupin some of it 10ft high. This did not deter members, however, and in October 1949 the first working bee consisting of 15 war amputees with 14 legs and 28 arms between them started to clear the area. Little headway was made in those initial stages however, as the gorse, broom and lupins soon came away again. Tenders were called for the leveling of the ground and a contract was let for the spraying of the lupins. In 1951 the park was officially named Livingstonia Park. It was named after a Mr Livingstone, a lieutenant of the famous Johnny Jones of Waikouaiti. Livingstone wanted to retire to the property on which the park area was built but although Jones approved the transaction, both died before it was completed. The property was left to Livingstone’s widow. In 1951 a two-storied wooden building was bought by the Association and dismantled. It provided large amounts of timber, roofing iron and bricks. Meanwhile, workshops and a large shed containing a dining room had been built at the park and a large concrete tank providing ample water for the park was built. The first cottage at the park, built from materials obtained from the dismantled house and funds provided by the Dunedin Community Sing was officially opened in March 1953 by the Mayor of Dunedin Mr (now Sir) L.M. Wright. It was officially named the “Community Sing Cottage” A second cottage was completed in 1956. This cottage had been an old transit cottage and was donated to the Association by the Dunedin City Council. It was cut in half, transported to the site and rebuilt. In November 1954 a public appeal was launched and a total of 3,000 pounds was raised for the Association. This has been used to improve the park and to continue with clearing more of the total eight acres. Over 1,000 trees, many of them donated by the Men of the Trees, have been planted around the park and will soon provide good shelter from the keen sea breezes. With its safe well sheltered beach, Livingstonia Park is now a favourite picnic spot for many Dunedin families. It is not a very unusual, beautiful or well equipped park, but it is the result of the drive, courage and initiative of a small band of physically disabled war veterans. The park they have hewn out of the sandhills is a tribute to them, their many helpers and their fallen comrades.