10 February 2017

Call to Remember Dame Hilda Ross through Street Name Change And Statue

Hamilton’s TOTI Trust has asked the City Council to acknowledge 20th century New Zealand history-maker Dame Hilda Ross (1883-1959) by re-naming a central city street “where she can best be remembered”.

TOTI is also calling nationally for artist concepts for a commemorative statue on the corner of Ward Street and Worley Place, a site approved by the council three years ago. These two streets are now recommended options for name change to ‘Dame Hilda Ross Place’.

Dame Hilda was a social and political pioneer with a half century of distinguished service to her city and country, and a hands-on activist who achieved international recognition. She co-founded children’s health camps, was a talented musician and conductor, and always worked for the well-being of children and families. The origins of her political career as a hospital board member, councillor, MP and Cabinet Minister came with the Second World War 1939-45 and Hamilton’s achievement of city status in 1945. In her Parliamentary maiden speech shesaid “I am far more interested in the welfare of the community than in any party political warfare as such”. Thousands mourned her passing in 1959.

MP David Bennett who supports TOTI’s application says “The current doubt over the future of Founders Theatre’s Dame Hilda Ross memorial fountain and the loss of Waikato Hospital’s Dame Hilda Ross Centre, means that if we do not restore the Dame’s identity, Hamilton, where the Dame spent most of her life, may forget an important public figure.”

“We plan to restore Dame Hilda Ross’ exceptional legacy to the public mind.” says TOTI Chair, Bill McArthur.

Wide consultation by TOTI has resulted in the project attracting support from Parliamentarians, Mana Whenua, business people, community groups, and historians, along with Ross family descendants.

TOTI promotes Waikato heritage and culture and has previously honoured Gallipoli artist Sapper Horace Moore-Jones with a street name change and a statue installed in Victoria Street. The Trust is currently working with Waikato Equestrians on the War Horse statue project – to acknowledge New Zealand’s 10,000 horses sent overseas during WW1 - due for installation in Hamilton’s Memorial Park later this year (2017).

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