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Otago Daily Times
21-05-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Hillside memorial impresses
A Dunedin group dedicated to preserving the city's military history is delighted with a major aspect of the refurbished KiwiRail Hillside Workshops site in South Dunedin. The refurbished site, which was officially reopened last week by deputy prime minister Winston Peters, includes an impressive war memorial and memorial park. The war memorial wall holds large historic brass plaques listing the names of Hillside Workshop workers who were killed in World Wars 1 and 2. The park provides ample room for the public to attend commemorative services and includes a carved Māori sculpture and information panels detailing the site's long history and development. Members of the Otago Military History Group (OMHG), who visited the war memorial and park recently, were impressed by both the design and prominence of the memorial. OMHG co-chairman Peter Trevathan said it was great to see such an important element of Hillside Workshop's long history given prominent and dignified acknowledgement. "Everyone is very impressed with it," he said. During construction of the war memorial and park, KiwiRail operations lead Mike Beaufort and KiwiRail bridge inspector and OMHG member Bernie Flaherty liaised with lead contractor Calder Stewart on the project. Mr Beaufort said Calder Stewart had been good to work with and "very responsive" to design suggestions from the pair. "The memorial wall and the plaques look great, and we have had a lot of positive feedback from members of the public whose attention has been caught by it passing by," he said. "The intention of the memorial and park is to be a peaceful place that also highlights the history of this area and the development of Hillside Workshops from the early days." The free-standing information panels highlight Māori history, settler history, the workshops and local people. Mr Trevathan said the site had hosted its first full Anzac Day service that year, which had been a great success. OMHG member Charlie Boyes, whose great uncle Andrew Colquhoun Boyes is among the names listed on the war memorial, is thrilled with the site. A.C. Boyes was working at KiwiRail when he joined up to go and fight in World War 1 — first at Gallipoli in 1915, where he was wounded by a shell, and later in France, where he was killed by a sniper. "Having his service acknowledged here, on this impressive memorial, is very special," Mr Boyes said. Mr Trevathan said the OMHG was planning a rededication service for the Hillside Workshops war memorial, to be held at 2pm on Armistice Day, November 11. The event would include representatives of the New Zealand Defence Force and KiwiRail management. It was hoped it would involve the descendants of those named on the memorial as well, he said. "We are asking families and descendants to get in touch with us, to share any information they have about the men listed on the memorial, and perhaps any memorabilia," he said. "The more family members we can involve in the rededication service, the better — and KiwiRail staff as well." • Families and descendants interested in attending the rededication service, or who would like more information, are invited to contact Mr Trevathan by emailing petebond058@ Mr Beaufort by emailing or Mr Flaherty by emailing
Otago Daily Times
23-04-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Video highlights veterans' sacrifices
Aaron Horrell holds a photo of his patrol in East Timor, deployed in 2000. Photos: supplied With his documentary airing on Anzac day, a Gore man wants to remind people of the experience, service and sacrifice of the contemporary veteran. Twenty-five years ago, Aaron Horrell brought a video camera to his first deployment to East Timor because he said he knew they were going to be a part of history. Last year, Mr Horrell commemorated that history by taking 15 veterans back to the place of the conflict and filming their emotional return for his documentary, Back to Timor. In its largest deployment since Korea, New Zealand was part of the multi-national force sent to East Timor in 1999 after its people voted for independence from Indonesia. After the referendum, devastation and violence erupted as pro-Indonesian militia tore through the island, systematically razing its towns to the ground. When Gore RSA president Bradley Bridgman arrived in Timor-Leste in 1999 he said there was nothing but "scorched earth". Mr Bridgman said the Timorese had fled their country when he first got there and his battalion worked to repatriate them back to their home. Two unknown soldiers stand in front of the carved graffiti left by Aaron Horrell in East Timor in the early 2000s. He said by the time he left and Mr Horrell's battalion arrived, people were starting to get back to their normal lives but it was still a "hostile" environment. It was in this environment in July 2000 where Private Leonard Manning was shot during an ambush by the militia, becoming the first New Zealand soldier killed in action since Vietnam. A total of five New Zealand soldiers were killed during the deployment. Mr Horrell said the Gore RSA helped to fund the three veterans' return to East Timor, while some of the others used their $1500 "travel warrants" which they are given to go back to a place where they served. He said Community South Trust funded the rest. "Probably 70% or 65% of funding came from Southland," he said. The veteran said the documentary highlights the emotional and positive experiences his crew had in returning to the war-torn country they had served in. He said it was touching for them to see how things had changed, that the country had healed, with the jungle regrown, but also how evidence of their presence remained. Aaron Horrell stands in front of his old carved message in East Timor last year. This evidence ranged from physical details like a drawing he had left carved on a door of the old barracks to the locals saying "kia ora bro" and remembering their service. Mr Horrell said he wanted his documentary to connect with veterans who did not get the chance to go, so they could experience the healing and appreciation too. He also said he wanted to use the documentary as a tool to remind the government of the sacrifices contemporary veterans made, not just those who fought in World Wars 1 and 2. He wanted the documentary to remind people that we need to be doing more for these veterans, who often come back isolated by the things they have experienced. "You created these veterans by sending them overseas, but you need to look after them a bit better once they come back," he said. Mr Bridgman said his RSA invested in the documentary as he similarly wanted to draw attention to the plight of the returned servicemen, and to remind them of the services, support and community the association can provide. Back to Timor airs on Anzac Day at 5pm on TV3 and at the same time on RNZ's video platform.
