The replacement sundial was unveiled at the 70th commemoration ceremony of the Te Awamutu and District War Memorial Park
Beautiful weather supported the 70th commemoration ceremony of the Te Awamutu and District War Memorial Park on Sunday.
The park was established to honour the sacrifice of 152 men from the Army, Navy and Air Force from 28 districts and a list of non-districts specified names listed in the sunken cross.
Using reporter Arthur Warburton’s archived accounts of the day, Marc Dawson of the War Memorial Maintenance Committee set the scene from 70 years ago.
Ex-servicemen, led by the Municipal Band, marched from Big Tree Corner with the Te Awamutu District Highland Pipe following.
This led up to the arrival of the official party before a special enclosure for the next of kin seated near the sunken cross, where dignitaries and the bands were also present with thousands waiting outside the stone wall.
Te Awamutu News 11 December 2025
An appreciative crowd then listened to a reciting of original sentiment from speeches given at that official opening on Sunday, December 4, 1955.
Waipā District councillor Shane Walsh read mayor Frank Jacobs’ speech, maintenance committee member Angus Smith read as Waipā County Council’s Frank Onion and Peter Fletcher of the maintenance committee read as Waipā MP and Minister of Works Stan Goosman.
Norris Hall, whose grandfather George Hall was a county council representative for Rangiaowhia and with the memorial committee who built the park, read as Gerald Gower the RSA executive and war memorial committee member.
Finally, maintenance committee member Mike Williams read the speech Prime Minister Sidney Holland gave that day to declare the park open.
“May we ever realise the cause for freedom and the reason that this park was made.”
Also recalled from the archives were accounts of the Municipal Band playing the National Anthem, Gaidyn Flay of the Highland Pipe Band playing a lone lament while facing into the Sunken Cross, service and scripture from Reverends Scott, Brooks and Heffernan, Hymns led by the Municipal Band, the dedication of the park “To the Memory of Those Who Gave Their Lives” made by Archdeacon J.D Hogg, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, followed by the Ode performed by a ‘Verse Speaking Quire of Girls’ from Te Awamutu Collage, the Lord’s Prayer and Benediction, and the Last Post and Reveille bugled by Lloyd Lee.
One of the many memorial features 70 years ago was a sundial that has been missing from its stand for three decades.
Dawson had fitted a replacement sundial last Thursday as an example of a vestment maintenance condition according to its status as an original memorial feature planned for in Harrold Babbage’s memorial design.
The sundial viewing area now has polar cardinal directions according to original plans. Photo: Jesse Wood
It bears an inscription recalled from the original that gave anonymous gratitude for the service of the Three Armed Forces and of a Sisterhood with Jews of WWII.
The council’s park operations team leader Matt Johnston, who was unable to attend, arranged the refurbishment of the sundial viewing area to be with polar cardinal directions according to plans that were also forwarded.
The sundial was unveiled on Sunday by maintenance committee member Fletcher representing the next of kin.
Three Te Awamutu District Highland Pipe Band members each performed a lament facing into the sunken cross before performing a tribute walk, leading all present through the pergola to the semi-sunken garden and into the park at large for a final item.
Maintenance committee member Maria Blackwell then spoke of 10 men from the Arohena district who lost their lives in WWII – seven of whom have their names engraved in the sunken cross.
She invited those present to also speak.
Hall again spoke, observing the vital value of the park as a crown jewel for the district and everyone in it.
Sandy Yarndley recalled farming the area. His grandfather Austin Yarndley donated 2.5 acres of land that inspired and initiated the park.
David Livingstone spoke of the importance to commemorate our fallen.
His grandfather, John Livingstone, chaired the Pirongia Domain Board and served on the memorial committee’s first two meetings in 1947.
He also assisted in receiving donations in June 1950.
“Lest we forget.”
The replacement sundial was unveiled at the 70th commemoration ceremony of the Te Awamutu and District War Memorial Park on Sunday. Photo: Jesse Wood
- Marc Dawson is a member of the independent park maintenance committee.
Marc Dawson
