Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Local Govt | National News Video | Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Search

 

Young war poet will help launch Waikato WW1 exhibition



A hastily dug front-line trench. Collection Richard Stowers.

Young war poet will help launch Waikato WW1 exhibition

20 APRIL 2015

For Immediate Release

________________________________________

A World War One commemorative poem written by a Waingaro School student will be read by the author at the official opening of the WW1 exhibition For Us They Fell at Waikato Museum on Friday 24 April.

The winning poem by Year 7 student Isara Gatfield-Dudson was chosen from entries to the Museum’s School War Poets Competition, developed as part of the launch for Waikato Museum’s WW1 commemorative exhibition For Us They Fell, which opens to the public on Anzac Day (25 April).

Waikato Museum Director Cherie Meecham says the Museum was overwhelmed at the response from Waikato and Coromandel schools .

“Our young war poets have obviously been doing their homework. The winning poem encapsulates the feelings of a community coming together to commemorate a war and honours those that fell to give us our freedom. It’s a beautiful and very moving poem.”

For Us They Fell

Out on the battlefield,
Facing the enemy,
For us they fought.
And we are remembering.
For them we live,
The peace they gave us,
The lives they lost,
The families who mourned,
There are far too many for us to forget.
They say ‘Lest we forget’,
And right they are.
The poppies we wear,
Are for their souls,
Are for the blood they shed,
Are for the lives they lost.
For us they fell.
Isara Gatfield-Dudson, Year 7, Waingaro School

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

Waikato Museum’s exhibition For Us They Fell tells the Waikato WWI story through the experiences of Waikato people. The exhibition takes the visitor from Waikato as it was just before the war, through the major campaigns and events and to the present day.

"We are indebted to the many people of the Waikato who have contributed many untold stories and personal treasures to make this a truly unique Waikato WWI project,” said Ms Meecham.

Background
For Us They Fell will continue to evolve during the WWI centenary years from Anzac Day 2015 – the 100th anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli - until the 100th anniversary of the Armistice in November 2018. The exhibition is supported by a website forustheyfell.org.nz where people can view and contribute to soldiers’ information.

For Us They Fell, is open from 10am – 4.30pm daily at Waikato Museum Te Whare Taonga o Waikato. Entry is free and guided tours are from Thursday – Saturday 1.30pm – 2.30pm. For information visit waikatomuseum.co.nz.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.