AUCKLAND

AUCKLAND Heritage hero recognised

A keen supporter of the Category 1 listed Onehunga Community House, Bridget Graham QSM, has been awarded a Kiwibank Local Hero Medal for 2022.

WORDS: Antony Phillips

An advocate for her community of Onehunga for many years, involved with numerous local committees and a former elected member on the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board, Bridget is the current Chair of the Friends of Onehunga Community House. Today a thriving community asset, the former Onehunga Primary School was listed by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga as a Category 1 historic place in 2018. When Bridget got involved in the early 1990s the story was very different. “Nothing had been done [at the old school] for over 25 years, the place was in quite a state!” says Bridget. “The committee had fallen over, the buildings were falling into disrepair so something had to be done and so the Friends of Onehunga Community House was formed in 1992.” Setting about the restoration work, Bridget and fellow committee members engaged the Ministry of Education Property Officer, Colin Tunnicliffe, who advised they needed a heritage assessment. This started the gradual, phased-programme of conservation restoration work.

Guided by our Senior Conservation Architect, Robin Byron, and heritage consultants Matthews and Matthews Architects, the project was far from easy for Bridget and her committee. “It was a tremendous amount of hard work and fundraising and a lot of convincing and forcing people to do things,” recalls Bridget. If there is any advice that she has to share for any other group or individual embarking on a heritage project? “It's a step-by-step process – count every step a victory!” Some of the highlights of the project include the removal of the fibrolite additions and the restoration of the bell tower which had been removed during WW2. “The bell was returned from the current Onehunga Primary School, next door, and the entire school watched on as the tower was craned onto the roof and we were able to rehang the bell in the restored tower,” Bridget explains. In a lovely gesture marking the continuity between the generations, the oldest living ex-pupil of the school and the youngest current pupil at that time rang the bell together in its restored home.

Onehunga Community House boasts 39 regular groups and programmes servicing well over 400 members of the community. The former school is also used by locals for private events and functions and community gatherings. Bridget's advocacy is inspiring and her dedication to community was recognised in the 2009 New Year Honours when she was awarded with the Queen's Service Medal (QSM). She is quick to eschew any glory and acknowledges the help of others. “I have to emphasise the hard work of coordinator, Tony Broad, who was also very involved with the heritage listing – we are very pleased and very proud that we achieved the heritage listing.” n