Save Our War Memorial Park

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G.A Gibbs.

A Park along the Mangahoe Stream as our Government Approved WW2 District Memorial.
Soon after the War, three schemes for a District War Memorial were launched: A new Town Hall was proposed by Mr A Hughes, a Memorial Monument/Beacon on Mt Kakepuku was proposed by H. Swarbrick and a Memorial Park involving the Beautification of the Mangahoe Stream was proposed by G Gibbs.
Following public meetings and correspondence to the Internal Affairs pursuing a subsidy, a Memorial Park as proposed by G. Gibbs was adopted by the Waipa District War Memorial Committee in July '49.
"When the walks are formed...amidst beautiful shrubs and trees dedicated to our fallen comrades, and cross the stream by rustic bridges named after famous battles. A More Suitable and Lasting Memorial would be almost impossible to achieve."
There was no Sunken Cross.
G. Gibbs plan for a Memorial Park involved an Entrance Archway, Footbridges commemorating famous battles and a Plaque and Tree for Every Fallen Soldier.
See Mid Column 1. Most of what did eventuate as the memorial was proposed by Gibbs, such as the playground including a paddling pool, sand pit, rockeries and open picnic area's. His proposal saw a need for the Mutu st traffic bridge that opened in ‘89. Also a Scenic Drive on the south border of the ‘park proper’ and another drive that extended along the Mangahoe Stream to Arawata St, with a river-walk from there to the end of Tawhiao st, now known as ‘Pioneer Walk.’
Gibbs plan for a 'Park as a Memorial' was approved by the Internal Affairs Dept' for Government Subsidy under their ‘Community Centre Memorial’ scheme as the District WW2 Memorial.
Gibbs' Memorial Plan was later embellished by H. Babbage in July 1951 to include the Sunken Cross, its Columned Pergola and Well Planned Dignifying Contours of Sunken Gardens and Memorial Features including an Artificial Lake, Fountains and Paths that are all Government Approved Memorial Features intended to be Maintained in Perpetuity.

A Te Awamutu Chamber of Commerce sub committee: Mr G.A Gibbs, Dr J.B.W Robertson, F.J Shearer, and L.A Truscott contributed to this memorial plan.

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