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Dunedin Public Libraries and the Dunedin Lebanese Community Present:
HE PURAPURA MARARA SCATTERED SEEDS
HE PURAPURA MARARA SCATTERED SEEDS
War Amputees Property
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WAR AMPUTEES PROPERTY
This land has a frontage of more than a quarter of a mile along a perfect beach and commands an unobstructed view of almost 50 miles of coastline. Extensive development on this property into a seaside holiday and health resort was well planned by the Otago and Southland War Amputees’ Association. This project was the first of its kind in the history of ex-servicemen in the Dominion. Mr A.J. Gordon, Chairman of the Special Planning and Development Committee of the Association told the Otago Daily Times that he hoped the project would inform people of the knowledge that the war amputees required something other than the benefits they were then receiving. In the past, they had been unable to take advantage of their annual holidays as a result of their disabilities. Payment of pensions and the provision of medical care were not sufficient. Holidays were a big factor in the health of an amputee.
The Beach, which fronts the property, is about a mile long, is recognized as one of the safest in New Zealand. Bathers are protected from the dangers of currents by a reef, which runs from a point off the southern end of the ground to Taieri Island (Moturata)
By the end of 1949 a considerable amount of preparatory work had been done. Parties of War Amputees and their families visited the site frequently and cleared large area of scrub and gorse, a bulldozer from the Bruce County Council levelled sections and formed an access road into the area. War Amputees themselves formed a road right through the property. Many hoped to spend their holidays camping at the property. No fresh water was connected with the property but they planned to sink a bore. They hoped to build a community pavilion combining hall and cookhouse for socials, dances and holiday parties.
Stan Gilchrist, President of the Otago-Southland District War Amputees Association, was instrumental in establishing this park. His children all had a hand in clearing this piece of land. “Just one more shovelful!!” was what they heard over and over.
Locals were enthusiastic about the War Amputees plans because it was hoped that the present bus service to Taieri Mouth would be improved to provide traffic on Sundays. The locals also hoped that the project would assist them in having electricity connected to the district. There was no connection past Brighton, in spite of petitions and residents believed this had retarded growth in the district. Electricity came to Taieri Mouth about 1954.
Datelate 1940's to 1950'sPhoto
People
Place
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Dunedin Public Libraries (25th Feb 2017). War Amputees Property. In Website Dunedin Public Libraries. Retrieved 3rd Dec 2024 12:19, from https://dunedin.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/200872