LETTERS & EMAILS
GEORGE PRATT'S MILITARY RECORDS
His wife Ann's address was 'care of Mrs Corcoran of 46 Anglesey Street, Ponsonby. I am researching the history of the men who died in World War 1 and are buried in a cemetery called Willow Grove which is located in Stockport, near Manchester, England. One such man was called George Pratt. He died on 23 March 1917 leaving a wife called Ann Pratt and a daughter called Annie. The curious thing is, both Ann and Annie sailed from Southampton on 8 March 1923 bound for Wellington on RMS Tainui. Within George Pratt's military records is a card stating Ann's address as 'care of Mrs Corcoran of 46 Anglesey Street, Ponsonby. I am curious to see if anyone amongst your readership has any connection with either Ann, Annie or Mrs Corcoran. It would be interesting to find out why they emigrated and what became of them. Ann Pratt was about 41 years old when she left England and her daughter Annie was 15. They are recorded as travelling alone which suggests they were travelling to meet a contact, presumably the one in Ponsonby. George was a bookkeeper before he joined the army in June 1916 and I assume he had a good income. Their home in Stockport was comparatively modest and I have not found any apparent connection with Ponsonby within her family or that of George. George was buried in a solitary grave in Willow Grove and unfortunately the passage of 100 years has seen it considerably damaged. The inscription on the grave is dedicated to 'George Pratt who was a dearly loved husband of Ann Pratt'. However the Commonwealth War Graves Commission has erected a special headstone in his memory. It would be interesting to discover any remaining family connection with Ponsonby. I hope you are able to help with this interesting story? Ray Withnall, ray.withnall@btinternet.com A LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER, JACINDA ARDERN FROM A LOCAL RESIDENT'S 94-YEAR-OLD MOTHER
Prime Minister Ardern – Yes, we all want the same thing, honesty and truthfulness. But some people are bribed with promises of money and monuments (ugly ones at that), when the majority of the community are against it. I am from Whanganui (a Labour seat for many years) and remember very well, the Prime Minister, Michael Joseph Savage, who was the most loved, admired and respected Prime Minister New Zealand has ever had. He was humble and honest and was loved very much by so many people. When he passed away the whole of the country turned out to pay respect to his coffin as it passed through New Zealand. He never tried to change our flag or put ugly monuments in places to just make a friend happy and give him honour and glory. Our ‘Protect’ was not a protest and it definitely was not angry. We wanted to protect a 200-year-old pohutukawa and keep the park beautiful for all people now and future generations. I am surprised that you are still allowing such an ugly piece of concrete and steel to be built in Dove Myer Robinson Park when there are other more suitable places. How can you continue with this when there is so much anger in the air? I do hope you will re-think this ‘vanity project for a few’ and make an unselfish decision – one which will leave this beautiful natural park for people to congregate and picnic in and enjoy the tree and the view just as they currently are.
OPEN LETTER TO THE GOVERNMENT - PARK POACHING
The government is once more taking over land against the wishes of the people. Might is not Right! I have lived in Parnell for over 40 years and over this period have experienced many joyful times in Dove Myer Robinson Park. New Year’s Day has always seen large picnics in the area now barricaded off by the Ministry for Culture and Heritage for its plans to erect a monstrous memorial and associated bulldozing which is completely out of keeping with this historic park, named after Mayor Robbie, who was a visionary. There are in-keeping, small-scale memorials for allies in World War II and other wars, but there is no memorial for the two children who died in a slip, and no memorial for the patients who died here from the Spanish Flu at Logan Campbell’s former mansion, after World War 1. Instead, the Ministry pushes ahead with a memorial that most Erebus families don’t want here. A concrete monstrosity that would cut into the roots, and prevent future growth of Auckland’s greatest walking Pohutukawa, Te Hā. The proposed structure is 26 metres long, eight metres high in concrete and steel with an Antarctic soundtrack and lights. What relationship does this have to this historic place? None! What is the cost of poaching our park? Ripping up our green sanctuary? At this moment, apart from the unsuitability of a humungous memorial, where can we join together on New Year’s Day – the waifs and strays, the lonely and disabled? And moreover, on every other day of the year? Why are the politicians not listening? Why have they given away the park that the people of Auckland bought to be the lungs of our city? Help us save this park! Visit www.Change.org/Mataharehare to sign the petition. Gloria Jenkins, Parnell ANOTHER MANIPULATED AUCKLAND COUNCIL PROCESS
What a joy to watch the generosity of the good people of Waitematā come together to acknowledge community advocate Gael Baldock recently. Despite meeting the criteria and eight nominations, Gael was overlooked by the Waitematā Local Board when selecting the recipients of their “Good Citizens Awards”. This deliberate blocking of community spirit and strong community contribution by the local board was a disgrace, yet sadly no surprise. Their churlish manipulation of the awards undermines the recipients and casts doubt, yet again, on the integrity of an Auckland Council process. Hats off to residents of Herne Bay, Ponsonby, Grey Lynn and surrounds (and Martin of Ponsonby News) who came together to thank Gael and present her with a new iPad so she can continue her good work on behalf of our community. Sarah Trotman, ONZM Advocate for the Communities and Residents of Waitematā Opinions expressed in Ponsonby News are not always the opinion of Alchemy Media Limited & Ponsonby News.
Sincerely Betty Penman
8 PONSONBY NEWS+ February 2022
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