Our Lady of Lourdes

Words by David Haxton

On a hillside in Paraparaumu is one of the coast’s most dramatic landmarks.

It’s the Our Lady of Lourdes statue which is prominent from a distance during the day.

And at night the head is featured by a series of lights.

You can also go to Tongariro St where there is a short walkway up a paved zigzag which will take you right next to it.

It’s a bit of a wow moment being so close to it.

A history panel says the 14-metre high statue of the Virgin Mary was commissioned by the parish priest, Father J.S.Dunn, in 1958 to mark the 100th anniversary of the apparition of the Virgin Mary at Lourdes.

“A Dutch artist, Martin Roestenberg, built the statue, one of the largest in the world of its kind.

“He moulded the two-metre high head at his home in Taihape.

“At the site, a crane lifted it onto the scaffolding.

“The statue grew from the head downward as layers of plaster-of-Paris were applied to scrim and moulded into the shape of draperies.

“A small door in the base gives access to a trapdoor leading up to the head.

“Through a winter of cold gales the artist persevered until, in August 1958, the massive statue was completed with its crown of 17 lights.

“When floodlit, its sparkling halo is visible for kilometres.

“Later, to protect it from vandalism and weathering, the statue was protected by several layers of fibreglass.

“Stations of the Cross, scenes of Christ’s passion in mosaics, were placed beside the hilltop path.”

Turf Management

On World Class Golf Course

Athree year apprenticeship at Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club leading to aCertificate in Turf Management and aposition as Head Greenkeeper gave local entrepreneur BrettSmith the handson experiencethathas helped him launch Multi Turf.Italso gave him an appreciation of the unique challenges of managing arange of lawn environmentsinapart of the countryknown forits rough southerly weather

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