S. Gerard's Monastery on Mt Victoria

Wellington's most stunningly-sited building, on the hill at the city-end of Oriental Bay, is S. Gerard's Monastery. It is not (and has never been) a monastery in fact — the word indicates a secluded community, separate from society. But it acquired the name early on. And it stuck

Oriental Bay is bordered by two churches of different denominations. At one end of the bay the spire of S. Barnabas Anglican Church rises. At the city-end stands the much larger bulk of S. Gerard's Catholic Church and Monastery.

The church was built in 1908 for the Redemptorists — a Roman Catholic missionary congregation formed in Italy in the 18th Century. They have always worked within the community, never as a secluded congregation.

The Redemptorists built the church in 1908 on the site of comptroller-general James FitzGerald's house. During an Open Day at the monastery we were told that the church was the first in the world to be dedicated to the Italian saint Gerard Majella (patron saint of pregnant women).

In 1932 the monastery (architect: Frederick de Jersey Clere) was built as the Redemptorists' home. It echoed the style of the church whose architect was John Sydney Swan. Mass is held each Sunday morning in S. Gerard's Church. By1988, increasing rates and declining numbers forced them to sell the property. It was bought by the South Pacific centre for the International Catholic Programme of Evangelisation. The monastery is used as a retreat and training centre — the first mission centre to be established by ICPE. At the regular Open Days, a tour of the building plus an account of its interesting history is offered. There's homemade food on sale and sometimes entertainment. The future is challenging for this iconic old building. For, at present, the church and monastery are only up to about 27% of new earthquake standards. According to maintenance and restoration trust chairman, Gordon Copeland, it would cost up to $10million to bring it up to 67% of those standards.

JCD, Bay View newsletter 64, November 2014

S. Barnabas Church on Pt Jerningham

High on the hill at the north-eastern end of Oriental Bay, stands the little weatherboard church of St Barnabas, its spire outlined on the skyline. The church's life began in 1898 as a 'church room' (so-called because St Mark's in Mt Victoria was the mother-church of the parish). In 1907 electric light was added; later the tower and bell; later still an organ. Roseneath became a parish in its own right in 1915.

Oriental Bay is bordered by two churches of different denominations. At one end of the bay the spire of S. Barnabas Anglican Church rises. At the city-end stands the much larger bulk of S. Gerard's Catholic Church and Monastery.

The 116-year-old church has survived two near-death experiences. In 1924 fire broke out. Lectern, walls and timbered ceiling were scorched and smoke damaged. The baptistery ceiling and the windows were burnt, and solid timbers holding up the tower were heavily charred. The fire started in the altar area where the floor was burnt out — the replacement floor was built over the top of it. In its post-fire restoration, concrete buttresses were added on the eastern side of the building and some extensions added.

During the church's 70th anniversary in 1967, memorials included the triple stained-glass Ascension window above the altar commemorating the first vicar Father McLevie. Five years later the ten remaining stained-glass windows, depicting the life of Christ, were completed.

The second crisis was less dramatic. But the building had deteriorated to such a poor state that its continuing existence was in serious doubt. After much debate, it was decided to renovate and the church was closed for six months. Huge community effort was made towards the final cost of $640,000. The tower was replaced, foundations were strengthened, a new gabled porch replaced the flatroofed one and renovations brought the building up to adequate earthquake standard. Some eccentricities were retained in the restoration. The church always leaned away from the prevailing northerly wind and it still does! The tower continues to move a bit, but doesn't squeak anymore! What has not changed in the building is the wonderful warmth that rimu walls give.

Apart from regular services in the Anglo-Catholic tradition, the picturesque church is popular for weddings, baptisms and occasionally concerts. Extensive and thriving weekday programmes include pre-schoolers’ music and craft, plus Supakidz for 5 to 12-year-olds.

JCD, Bay View newsletter 64, November 2014

Walking Our Sculpture Trail

Choose a "You can't beat Wellington on a good day" sort of day and walk Wellington's stunning sculpture trail. From Oriental Bay, take a No 14 or a No 24 bus to the Railway Station and start the walk at Bunny Street where discs of Italian marble form the sculptural feature 'Seismic'. Up Lambton Quay at Stout Street are the pillars by sculptors Ralph Hotere and Mary McFarlane. Further up the quay, the shells by Jeff Thomson, mark Wellington's previous shoreline. Still further up, at Grey Street, are the stainless steel structures by Anton Parsons, their shining silver surfaces covered with braille-like knobs.

Next, head under the sails of Queen's Wharf — a sort of aerial sculpture themselves — to Len Lye's Water Whirler where, if you're lucky, you can watch jets of water quiver in the air.

Further along stands the statue of Kupe, Polynesian discoverer of Aotearoa, with his wife and tohunga. Past Te Papa meet Solace in the Wind (see Page 12) and then after Chaffers Marina, the sculpture: Tale of the Whale on Oriental Parade. Carved by Colin Webster-Watson, it recalls 19th Century days when whales were landed at Oriental Bay. Enough for one day. Refresh yourself at one of our Oriental Bay cafés. In a future issue, we'll explore the rest of the sculpture walk along by Wellington Airport.

JCD, Bay View newsletter 64, November 2014

WW1 in the Bus Stop

Three soldiers in uniform stand in Oriental Parade’s historic bus shelter at the bottom of Carlton Gore Road. They are part of the “Wellington – Lest we Forget” project organised by the Wellington City Council for the World War I centenary commemoration. Hugh Decimus Bridge (on the extreme right) was the youngest of ten (hence his middle name — tenth in Latin). He’s pictured here with his brothers (L to R): Lionel Septimus and Cyprian Everard. Born in Wellington in 1890, Hugh went to Roseneath School. His family lived in Oriental Parade. He survived the Battle of Passchendaele but was killed by sniper fire a few weeks later.

Bay View newsletter 64, November 2014

Local Wins Lifetime Achievement Award

Graham (left); Peter Bush (centre) with Mayor Celia Wade-Brown

Oriental Bay resident, Graham Stewart, is pictured here (left) receiving the National Press Club's Lifetime Achievement Award from Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown and club vice-president, Peter Bush. Graham Stewart was the seventh recipient of this award.

He was the first cameraman to receive the award which is only presented every five years "and I started with a box brownie," he said.

A few of Graham Stewart's career highlights as a press photographer were outlined by the Mayor. They included his coverage of the 1951 waterfront strike, the pivotal post World War II labour relations and the terrible Tangiwai disaster. His photographic career started on the New Zealand Herald and continued on the provincial circuit before he returned to the Herald as illustrations editor. He held this position for many years.

He later entered book publishing as an executive director of AH & AW Reed, the Wellington-based publishing house which used to be so dominant in the market. When Reeds faltered, the Mayor said, Graham seized the opportunity to start his own imprint, Grantham House. Non-fiction books on New Zealand and its cities were published, including two monumental works on Wellington. In uncertain publishing times, Grantham House continues to flourish.

In his reply Graham Stewart described the early days of his 60 plus career, well before television and hourly radio news. "All newspaper people had to be correctly dressed — we all wore collar and tie even when covering rugby on the sideline," he said. He went on to describe the cameras back then, which were "as large as a six-pack of beer". Glass negative plates were used and, when on out-of-town assignments, changing bags with holes for the arms to be inserted had to be used.

Before light meters came along, chemical and photographic formulas had to be mixed. For flash photography you had to use a handkerchief to remove a very hot bulb before replacing it with another. There was usually only one chance for a photo at VIP events, as you had to change the plate manually and re-cock the camera shutter — by which time the VIP in question could well have gone.

He added some further historic events he'd covered — Royal tours of the 1950s; Sir Edmund Hillary's wedding to Louise Rose; the last TEAL flying boat taking off for Sydney; the visit to New Zealand of Nat King Cole and also Vice-president Nixon. "I was present at the signing of the contract to build the Auckland harbour bridge... I was sitting in the co-pilot's seat when dare devil Freddie Ladd flew (illegally) under the bridge before the official opening".

In his early years in book publishing, book designers had to cut and paste with a scalpel every strip of typography on to each page of a book over a light box. They worked with long galleys of type produced on the old linotype machines. "Technology has certainly brought unbelievable changes to all forms of the printed word — and photography — since I started on the road."

The award ceremony took place late last year at the Wellington City Council.

For the Love of Animals

Local animal-lover, Barbara Gordon, is absolutely delighted with the recently opened SPCA premises in the Old Fever Hospital on Mt Victoria. She has volunteered for the SPCA for some 30 years now ... and counting. Her involvement began in the 1970s at the increasingly-inadequate premises in Newtown. She was on the committee then and included dog-walking amongst her volunteering duties.

After a short break, she became involved again three or four years ago. A long-time cat-lover (she has four cats in her Bayview home) she donated the Cat Wing in the new building. She is on the Board there and does a weekly stint on the front desk to help, direct and welcome visitors.

After an 8-year battle to secure the premises, it's easy to understand the joy of the staff, the volunteers and — not to forget — the animals who have been found to be much calmer and happier here. The new premises are three times the area of the old and much quieter, surrounded as they are by the open space and greenness of the Town Belt.

The building has been earthquake-strengthened and refurbished at a cost of about $3.5million. The conversion is now virtually complete and Barbara pays tribute to Catherine Torrance who was project manager — "she did a marvellous job, she really did."

The building consists of an education centre and a veterinary wing with new hospital facilities where unwell animals undergo operations and are nursed back to health. Then there's the extensive adoption area devoted to the everlasting quest to find permanent homes for the animals — there has been a 30% increase in adoptions since they moved to the new premises.

Another long-term quest is for the finance still needed. "We have another million dollars to raise," Barbara said. One of the fundraising events they encourage, is for others to hire part of the premises. "We have children's parties up there; there's a conference room for hire and animal-lovers could even have weddings up there!" There are plans for a dog-friendly café later on, too.

The building is an attractive example of the Arts and Crafts style with its spreadeagled shape and long verandahs. It was built between 1918–1920 as a Fever Hospital for patients with infectious diseases. Many of those treated were Tb sufferers. Others were soldiers returning from World War I who had

fallen victim to the influenza pandemic — more than 700 are said to have died from the flu in the Wellington region alone.

In 1969 the name changed to the Chest Hospital which operated for 12 years before it closed. Seven years later the building became the Wellington Polytechnic Conservatory of Music and was used for rehearsals up to 1998.

This was followed by many years of neglect, uncertainty, interspersed by hopeful plans by the SPCA that petered out. The buildings were getting more and more derelict. But finally the WCC and the SPCA came to an agreement and renovations got going smartly.

The Grand Opening was held in February of this year.

JD, Bay View newsletter 63, May 2014

The Bay Walkers - Christmas 2013

5 years, or 260 Mondays ago I went on my first Oriental Bay Monday Morning Walk. That friend who opened this door for me has since moved up to Hawkes Bay. I miss her company and appreciate this legacy. It did not take long to realize how lucky I was to have landed an address on Oriental Parade in Oriental Bay. More than a parade of shops and flats, it is a close, vibrant (neighbourly) neighbourhood. Unlike other neighbourhoods, everyone here lives on the same side of the street and shares the same view, though not always the same viewpoint. The Monday Morning Walkers, a diverse and energetic group of women total approximately 21. Men are discouraged. Walks are vigorous, fast paced and hilly. Every walk is a good one and starts the week off with resolve. Wind direction and a cafe are serious things to consider when deciding the route. Coffee plays an essential role. A long black had better be hot, a decent cremora must be apparent, and cappuccino w/chocolate, whether trim or regular should not be forgotten.

I could never miss a Monday Walk, or I would never have known which restaurant to try, or what part of New Zealand I should visit next, or who was in and out in politics. More books, films, art exhibitions (in and out of the country), ballets and trips abroad have been discussed. Many global & health problems were solved while heaving ourselves up through the bush to Mt Vic. or careening along the fox line in Brooklyn’s Central Park.

This group had been walking many years before I stumbled onto them and their established traditions. The annual Christmas Walk held each December unites this group and is the only walk where everyone comes on the day. It is more of an amble where all catch up with each other en masse. Each Christmas Walk is memorable, probably most memorable for the three women slated each year having the task of planning the route and organizing the lunch. Where we go, how we go and where we eat are closely guarded secrets until THE DAY. No spoilers allowed. December 2013’s IT GIRLS, Viv Callendar, Cathy Kennedy-Good, and Annabel Leask orchestrated an exceptional Team Christmas Walk. One Monday, in early December, we trooped to Central Station commandeered the rail car to Silver Stream and continued on our way. Crossing the bridge we cut across fields in the sun onto the St Patrick’s College campus. Ahead, in the shade of trees an impromptu outdoor café was assembled, complete with tablecloth, steaming coffee in blue and white cups, juice, platters of strawberries, cherries and cheese biscuits (All wanted the recipe) Julie O’Connor stationed here with Faith Taylor, efficient baristas provided morning tea. On we walked, past the golf course, through Barton’s Bush, down garden alleyways and paths opening up into a private back garden. No lunch in sight, another red herring. This was the champagne stop. Just a few minutes on, the trail ended at the Fig Café in Lower Hutt. This former church fellowship hall sat prepped, ready for us and for Christmas. A long banquet table lined one wall set for our lunch. A ninjas appeared with generous bowls and platters of well-dressed salads, tasty savoury quiches and breads. Good food, good wine and especially good company marked the day. Back onto the train and into Wellington this group of long time and comfortable friends enjoyed a day they will continue to share. I will leave New Zealand in June and return to the United States. Fortunately, they have Mondays there also. The Vermont branch of the Monday Morning Oriental Bay Walkers will be in full swing by September. All are welcome (no men).

Susan Wagenhofer, Bay View newsletter 63, May 2014

From the Past

It is 50 years on 2 May since the last tram ran through the streets of Wellington – this para is from the Evening Post 2 May 1964:

Bay View newsletter 63, May 2014

Interesting Tidbits about Waitangi Park

Photographer: Heather Hapeta

While surfing the net one day, I came across some interesting information about our wonderful Waitangi Park on Wellington Waterfront’s website, www.wellingtonwaterfront.co.nz.

It all started from a Google search when I was wondering how come Waitangi Park was still beautifully green when Wellington City Council had stopped watering other parks in the city. You may remember the summer we were all urged to conserve water. I know this is something we rain-rich Wellingtonians don’t normally have as front-of-mind, despite the fact that we should always be conscious of our use of such a precious resource, but this time – we were warned – we were at a crisis point as we only had one emergency reservoir in Upper Hutt (the other one was getting an upgrade).

What I found is that Waitangi Park isn’t just useful and attractive; its design is also very practical – which meant that all Oriental Bay Residents continued to enjoy beautiful green grass and happy trees when all other council parks were getting very very brown.

It all starts with the Waitangi Stream – an important fresh water resource once used by the local Māori for catching eel (tuna) as they were heading out to sea. The designers “daylighted” the Waitangi Stream, bringing it above ground and channelling it through both artificial and natural treatment systems, treatment that includes the wetlands within the Park.

Those lovely and full rain clouds we can get here in Wellington add to the stream’s generosity. In urban areas, often the first lot of rainwater runoff holds a lot of oils, hard material (such as rubbish people haven’t disposed of well) and other pollutants. Normally this flows directly into the sea via the stormwater systems all cities have. However, around Waitangi Park, the stormwaters are diverted to go through the same filtering systems as the stream goes through.

This collected and cleaned water is then either used for irrigating Waitangi Park or it’s discharged in its much cleaner form into the harbour. And it doesn’t have to be immediately used or discarded. The wetlands operate as a storage lagoon for holding the water before it’s used to irrigate the park and the neighbouring plants.

So 100% of Waitangi Park’s irrigation comes from renewable water sources, rather than the town supply. The next time you’re up early in the morning and see the sprinklers doing their stuff you can remember that, thanks to clever and sustainable design by the Wellington Waterfront, Waitangi Park and its environs isn’t just pretty; it’s good for the environment too. Love it!

RCS, Bay View newsletter 63, May 2014

Holocaust Centre of New Zealand

Why teach New Zealand children about the Holocaust? What relevance does the Holocaust have for New Zealanders? How did something like this happen? What can we do about it?

These and other questions are addressed at the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand located in the Wellington Jewish Community Centre at 80 Webb Street. It aims to collect and share stories of New Zealand survivors, helpers and witnesses and works to promote individual responsibility and respect for diversity and human rights. It is open daily Sunday to Friday (except for Jewish and other holidays) from 10 am to 1 pm. Telephone 801 9480.

There is a time-line showing events in Europe and events at the same time in New Zealand, folders indicating what the government knew about what was happening in Europe, what the New Zealand people knew, and what the Jewish community knew. Stories are told of New Zealand survivors of the Holocaust, their and their families’ lives before World War II, the war years, how they came to New Zealand, and their lives here post war. A letter from a New Zealand soldier details his horror at the conditions at one of the camps. Another display tells of the Deckstons, a childless Jewish couple who, seeing what was happening, travelled to Europe in the 1930s and brought 20 Jewish orphans to New Zealand.

A number of thought provoking quotations, e.g., “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good people do nothing.” (Edmund Burke) are depicted on the walls of the Centre. DVDs of survivor stories can be played. The Centre’s website www.holocaustcentre.org.nz gives links to other Holocaust centres all over the world.

School groups are frequent visitors to the centre. The consequences of discrimination and bullying are readily discussed with them. Other community groups such as Probus, church groups, or Rotary clubs, as well as individual visitors are always welcome.

Jackie Pope, Bay View newsletter 63, May 2014