Matakana memorial statue on the mend

Repairs to the damaged memorial are nearly complete.

Repairs to the Matakana War Memorial are nearly complete, after it was vandalised four times since Anzac Day services in April.

Fundraising is also now underway to upgrade the security system for the site.

An 18-year-old local man admitted to the worst damage, which saw the head of the statue of King George broken off and damaged.

Repairs to the statue are being met by Auckland Council and are estimated to be around $15,000.

Having been repeatedly vandalised over the last 20 years, there was initially talk of the statue being removed from the village to protect it, but an upgraded security system is now being looked at instead.

It is estimated the upgrade will cost up to $6500 and a Givealittle page has been set up to help raise funds.

War memorial conservator Adrienne Miller says the damage is particularly upsetting, as the memorial honours 20 young local men who died during the two World Wars and was paid for with money raised by local women in Matakana Village in 1917 and 1918.

Along with the war memorial, the funds raised by the women also paid for a nurse to go overseas to Egypt, England and France to help care for the wounded during World War l.

Info: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/httpswwwfacebookcommatakanawarmemoria