Memorial grows from small beginnings



Three-and-a-half years ago, Tasman District Commander, Superintendent Grant O’Fee had visions of a small cairn of boulders and a plaque to commemorate the seven people murdered by Stanley Graham at Kowhitirangi in 1941.

On 8 October this year, 63 years after the killings, he stood back, very impressed at the unveiling of a seven tonne memorial stone dedicated to the four police officers, two Home Guardsmen and the agriculturist killed by Graham.

The historical murders have always fascinated Grant, both for the event itself and as a case study to learn about planning and being aware of potentially fatal situations.

But it was on his first visit to Kowhitirangi that he discovered the lack of any memorial to the shooting victims. “This struck me as a sad state of affairs,” says Grant. “There was nothing there for those guys.”

Eighteen months ago, and following consultation with local farmer Henry Growcott (one of the last surviving members of the group who searched for Graham), the Westland mayor and a public meeting with valley residents, the concept of a permanent memorial won widespread support.

Grant contacted former senior constable and artist Barry Thomson (QSM) who was less than enthusiastic about his idea of a small pyramid of boulders and a plaque. Further ideas were discussed culminating in a huge boulder being sourced and taken from the creek near the shooting site.

The Army transported the stone to Christchurch where Barry “worked ridiculous hours and put his heart and soul into it,” says Grant. “He carved every bit of it by hand and cast the bronze plaques from wooden moulds.”

Barry says it is not the biggest monument he has created, but it is the most satisfying. “It has been a real privilege to be able to do this,” he says. “These beggars deserve a memorial and I’m honoured to be giving it to them. It’s a big project but it’s worth it to give justice to those who gave their lives in service.”

The successful unveiling took place on 8 October 2004, 63 years to the day after the tragedy. More than 50 police officers and 100 relatives of the slain men were among the 300 attendees.

Grant says the project has taken a lot of time, but the letters of genuine appreciation from all of the families have made it worthwhile.

“The dads of 13 kids were murdered that day and it’s not until you talk with them about it that you realise the huge impact it had on them,” says Grant.

“The memorial is much bigger than what I envisaged but it’s not the size that matters. It’s more the fact that people have somewhere to go now with their kids to remember and talk about what happened.”