Another significant achievement in the quest to restore Southland’s war memorials was achieved in time for Anzac Day, but the COVID-19 lockdown prevented any formal fanfare.

Ann Robbie, of Ryal Bush, has made it her personal mission to track down and document memorial boards, plaques, cenotaphs and honours rolls from both World Wars, that have fallen into disrepair or been removed from public display due to the closure of public buildings or schools that once housed them. She and her husband Peter have spent countless hours restoring and rehoming them for future generations to see and respect.

It's been a labour of love, sparked in the 1970s, that she has done in a voluntary capacity, with crucial help along the way from the various communities where the memorials are located.

The most recent project was one of the largest, the restoration of the Otapiri memorial gates that stood guard at the entrance to the long-since closed Otapiri School.

“The Winton RSA have been behind this one with me. It’s been great to have their input and support.”

The gates, and the land on which they sit, had fallen into a bad state of repair and it was clear it would be a big job.

The Otapiri memorial gates before the restoration project began.

The project formally started two years ago when the Winton RSA lent its support, along with several other specialist tradespeople. The Fiordland RSA also got involved, while Army cadets assisted with clearing up the property.

Steve Geary Engineering took on the challenge of repairing the metalwork on the gates, which would have been in reasonable shape were it not for the fact that the hinges had seized and they had been pushed over at some point in the past to gain access to the property – breaking the hinges in the process. They were successfully repaired, sandblasted, hot-dip galvanised and powder coated. Some of the work had to be carried out in Christchurch and Lochiel Trailers provided the transport.

One of the most time-consuming factors had been in ensuring that a drainage issue was able to be sorted to ensure the gates were not undermined. Neville Stirling had then levelled and gravelled it all to finish it off, Mrs Robbie said.

The memorial plaques, in marble at each side of the gates, were professionally restored by Ian Trainor, of Maiden Stone, as the lettering in the marble had been damaged by previous well-intentioned cleaning with corrosive products. (Bleach pits the marble and removes the finish from the stone, thus making it hard to get nice finish).

Many others had also stepped up and pitched in along the way, she said.

“It was a brilliant effort by everyone involved,” Mrs Robbie said. “It's nice to see another memorial restoration completed.”

The idea had been to complete the work in time for a formal public unveiling on Anzac Day. It was finished on time but, with public gatherings banned, it was instead simply marked on Anzac Day by the laying of a wreath by lifelong Otapiri resident Malcolm McKenzie and his wife Margaret, who were thrilled to see the memorial restored.

A formal unveiling will be held at some point in the future.

Meanwhile, the next project is overseeing is the restoration of the memorial at Isla Bank’s Calcium Cemetery. The Otautau RSA has secured funding to assist with the repair of the impressive plinth with a soldier at the top. The monument has been washed out at the base and become quite unstable. Work was due to start just prior to the Level 4 lockdown. A memorial board from Tisbury is also being restored and, when completed will be erected at the Tisbury School.

The restored gates were adorned with a wreath on Anzac Day, placed by Otapiri residents Malcolm and Margaret McKenzie.