142 War Memorial Corner Paraparaumu, These three landmarks are the Original Paraparaumu RSA, the Paraparaumu War Memorial and the Paraparaumu War Memorial Hall
Reason for the name
The corner was named because it included three significant landmarks with links to WW1, WW2, Borneo and Vietnam. These three landmarks are the Original Paraparaumu RSA, the Paraparaumu War Memorial and the Paraparaumu War Memorial Hall
Since 2014 The New Zealand Poppy Places Trust was formed. The objectives of the Trust is, “to develop, promote and oversee a nationwide project to commemorate and recognise, as part of the heritage of New Zealanders, the participation of New Zealand in military conflicts and operation service overseas”. The Trust is about, “identifying and recording many of our street names and places that are directly related to people and events from overseas military places.” The Trust has had success throughout NZ (see www.poppyplaces.nz) and when the opportunity arose to include Kapiti places and streets it was taken. The initial request for Poppy Place recognition came from the new owners of the original RSA building. This prompted a meeting represented by the Trust, the RSA and KCDC. The concept was approved and at this point it was decided that the Poppy Place would relate to all three structures based around the Paraparaumu Memorial.
Author: The Poppy Places Trust with support from the Paraparaumu RSA.
The story behind each of these landmarks that constitute the ‘Paraparaumu Memorial Corner” are below:
The Paraparaumu War Memorial:
In 1921 an Act of Parliament established 25 April as a national day of Remembrance. One of the first major projects for war veterans and their families was to create a lasting war memorial. With extensive use of voluntary labour, it was completed, with significant support from the Baucke and Beckett families at a modest cost of 500 pounds sterling and dedicated by the Governor General, HE Admiral Lord Jellicoe of Jutland in 1924.
This imposing Memorial Arch at the Paraparaumu Domain is floodlit at night after being renovated in 2014 at a cost of $275,000 - this was through funding support from Kapiti Coast District Council and the Lottery Grants Board at the initiative of the RSA. It is the centrepiece of the RSA Dawn Parade and Civic ceremony held annually on ANZAC Day.
The Paraparaumu Memorial Hall:
The Memorial Hall was opened on December 17th 1955 by the Rt Hon S.G. Holland and is part of and reflects the concept of a Memorial Corner.
The Paraparaumu RSA:
The RSA was formed by local WW1 returned soldiers in 1921 as a sub-branch of the Wellington Returned Soldiers Association. Initially members were mostly rural from Paekakariki to Waikanae; the Eastern part of what is now Mazengarb Road was called Soldiers Road. Members initially met in the local public Hall, homes, and the AA camping grounds at Manly Road. The principal activities of members concentrated on welfare and comradeship. 59 locals were recorded as going overseas in WW1. The first President A.T.White appears to have been the Club President for 22 years - from 1921 to 1943! (Unfortunately the records prior to the late 1960s/1970s appear to have been accidentally destroyed). The two basic principles of the RSA, welfare and comradeship was of great comfort to many struggling WW1 returned soldiers during the economic slump during the 1930s. It was during the 1930s that a soldiers' camp was established at Paraparaumu Beach by Government and out-of-work returned soldiers set to work to clear and drain swamp in the area now occupied by the airport.
78 locals were recorded as leaving for overseas service for WW2. In 1941 the organisation was renamed the NZ Returned Serviceman’s Association and membership was for all who served overseas in a recognised theatre of war. During WW2 Hutt County Council gave permission for the RSA to expand the old Rugby changing rooms at the Domain which became known as the Dugout. In 1956 the Domain Management Committee of then Hutt County Council regional body agreed to purchase the dugout with three payments of 225 pounds each year to 1958.
In 1966 Parliament amended the ANZAC Day Act reducing the national Remembrance holiday to half a day. The cry “We need our own club rooms” caused a committee to be formed in 1969/70 (C.D. Perrot, Ian Milne, Bob and Vern Boyd, Trevor Beadle, Arthur Duley, Gerry Gerrard, Gil Jacobs and Ray Lena) to make it happen. Funds were raised through donations, raffles, Queen Carnival and talent quests and with public help a house in Ocean Road was purchased. This first RSA ‘home’ was a property on the corner of Seaview Road and Ocean Road at Paraparaumu Beach. With the support of the local MP of the day Mr A McCready, a land swap occurred for the home of the Public Works foreman in Amohia Street next door to the memorial Arch in 1972; The official opening took place on 21 April 1973 under Club President I.M Milne and the dedication was performed by the Rev Keith Elliott VC.
Additions over the years created extensive premises including: a lounge, dining room, drinkers snug, large snooker room and gaming room. In 1975 the Ladies Section was reactivated and the strength of this section supported the social events which contributed to the strength of membership. Also in 1975 the ‘J Force’ returned servicemen were invited to join the RSA.
In January 1981, the Paraparaumu RSA ceased being a sub branch of Wellington RSA and was granted separate Association membership due to membership numbers. Local supporters were permitted to join the RSA at this time as long as membership did not exceed 15% of total membership.
The membership had increased to 600, and under President Alex Wakelin, included a Boer war veteran, 99 year old Bill Golding of Paekakariki, 65 ‘new’ Service members, a Women’s section chaired by Eileen Wakelin and several women Returned members including Sister O’Brien (Egypt WW2) recently retired Principal Nurse at the Paraparaumu Maternity hospital.
Gaming machines had been introduced and raised significant proportion of the cash. RSA activities in this period included Dances, meetings, indoor sports – billiards, snooker, darts, indoor bowls, Mah-jong and cards, Housie, Golf and Outdoor Bowls, adjuncts. The club rooms were also used for ANZAC Day meetings and with the support of the Women’s section two dances a year and as a venue for post funeral teas. Welfare support and pension advice was dispensed with the help of an appointed Welfare Officer with his own office.
During the early 1980s there had been a Government freeze on liquor and other product prices. The RSA liquor price mark-up was low to compete with the other five local liquor outlets and profits were insufficient to carry out many improvements. Initially there were subsidies for all member subscriptions provided by the Welfare fund but then by gaming and general funds.
In 1992 the Scholarship Trust was established with a grant from the club of $20,000 to benefit students from Kapiti and Paraparaumu Colleges with grants for study fees and books. The initial Trustees were Ben New, Wes Allott and Brian Vickerman. In 1993, as well as book grants one student was funded to undertake a Word processor course which resulted in a job offer. Until 1993 all financial records were hand written with financial reports and audit undertaken on a computer by a Chartered Accountant. When new Secretary/Manager Eddie Keene was appointed, he having computer experience convinced the Committee to purchase computer, software and support services and with help from volunteer Robin Stratford records of membership and accounts were set up. Electronic tills gave further financial support.
The club organisation in 1994 was just under 1000 members and an organisation comprising President, two Vice Presidents, and an Executive Committee of 6 Returned & Service Members. There was also the Welfare officer and a sub–house Committee of President, 2 Vice Presidents and ten members as Chairs/convenors for House & Grounds, Social/Sports, Publicity & Communication, Raffle, Staff Contracts and the Women’s section which had monthly meetings/speakers and trips. The Scholarship Trust included two RSA members and the two College Principals.
Due to RSA representation, the AwaTapu cemetery which opened 1 October 1995 included a Servicemen’s section as the serviceman’s section in the Kapiti Road cemetery was virtually full.
By 2003 the club had over 2000 members but active participation by many was declining. By 2013 Paraparaumu RSA, like many others was beginning to feel the effects of an economic downturn which caused falling attendance and revenue. After discussions with the Kapiti Club, suffering the same effects, amalgamation was approved, under the guidance of Club President Chis Turver, by both clubs, and in September 2015, the Governor General, HE Sir Jerry Mateparae and Kapiti Mayor Ross Church launched Club Vista before a packed house.
The RSA Building was sold and the building is now owned and operated by as a "Magic Sparks" childcare centre. The request for the area to be deemed a Poppy Place was made by the current owners Mark and Angie Stead.
