Steve Mannington checks out the restored pole. Photo: Roy Pilott
The flagpole which overlooks Te Awamutu’s Anzac Green will be back in place soon – but the restoration work on it has done nothing to explain its story.
Menzshed, the RSA, Waipā District Council and Mitre10 combined to have the pole removed so that it could be weather-proofed, and some rotting wood replaced.
The Menzshed team has also restored the pulley system with a stainless-steel shaft.
When the pole was sanded back it was expected to unveil kauri – but instead member Graeme Lomax identified it as Oregon pine.
“A lot of Oregon pine was imported from the United States for ship and yacht masts,” he explained.
It seems this one, 50mm shy of eight metres in length, was used to fly flags rather than hold sails.
Lomax, who has an extensive background in the building industry and is a war history buff, said the pole had been given a coat of sealer, undercoat and two coats of gloss paint and was set to look over the green for another 100 years.
Of course, that’s assuming it has been there for that long.
Lou Brown
District councillor and RSA member Lou Brown understood the pole had been donated in 1923, but subsequent information suggests it was erected a few years later.
He is still keen to hear from anyone who might be able to fill in some of the missing gaps in the flagpole’s history.
In the meantime, the stainless steel sides which will hold the pole in place will be attached soon in preparation for its return, well in time for Anzac Day.
Brown said there were also plans for a ceremony to acknowledge the community support which has enabled to pole to fly the flag for Te Awamutu again.
Meanwhile, the pole project will be one of the last for Steve Mannington is his position as Menzshed president.
The Kihikihi resident has been at the helm for the past three years but will stand down at the club’s annual meeting next Wednesday. He plans to remain a committee member.
Menzshed has enjoyed a growth in popularity and attention in recent years and is regularly called on to help repair and restore items.
The seeping rust stain was a sign of trouble for Te Awamutu’s flagpole.
