A Special 'Christmas Tree'

	A SPECIAL TREE: The ANZAC Memorial Pohutukawa on the corner of Rata and Oroua Streets, Eastbourne.

The native Pohutukawa and Rata are known as New Zealand's 'Christmas Tree' because of their bright red blooms during the Christmas season.

In the Wellington harbourside suburb of Eastbourne grows a Pohutukawa with special significance as the first memorial to commemorate the Gallipoli Campaign.

On 14 July 1915, the Eastbourne Beautifying Society invited the Mayor of Eastbourne, Mr J.P. Kelly, 'to plant two fine Pohutukawas [sic] in Rata Road, in commemoration of the brave deeds done by our soldiers in Gallipoli', reported the Dominion the following day. The children of the juvenile branch of the Eastbourne Beautifying Society then completed the planting of Rata Road with Pohutukawa.

A plaque was later erected and the trees specially cared for in the early years by the juvenile branch.

MEMORIAL PLAQUE: 'A.N.Z.A.C. — To commemorate the landing of N.Z. Troops at Gallipoli J.P. Kelly LSO Mayor planted this tree Wednesday 14th July 1915'

The fact that these trees were planting only two and a half months after the landing at Gallipoli makes the Pohutukawa in Eastbourne the first ANZAC Memorial in New Zealand but also the earliest known public memorial to the First World War. It is interesting to note that the very next day after the planting ceremony the first wounded soldiers back from Gallipoli were landed in Wellington.

The view down Rata Street to the harbour beyond.

25 years later on ANZAC Day 1940 — the first observance of the Second World War — the significance of the now historic Pohutukawa of Eastbourne was explained by the Dominion President of the NZRSA and Eastbourne resident, Hon (later Sir) William Perry MLC, in an address to 600 returned soldiers and official guests, including the Prime Minister and diplomatic representative of the Allied countries, at the Wellington Town Hall. The NZRSA-sponsored function was an official event to mark New Zealand's Centennial. In a fitting gesture to honour the ANZAC bond, President Perry presented sprigs from the historic Pohutukawa to visiting representatives of the Returned Sailors & Soldiers' Imperial League of Australia (now known as the RSL). The NZRSA intended to follow up this gesture with seedlings for each of the state headquarters of the League in Australia.

91 YEARS OLD AND STILL GROWING STRONG: The ANZAC Memorial Pohutukawa on the corner of Rata and Oroua Streets, Eastbourne.

Today, this significant but relatively unknown 'living memorial' to ANZAC continues to prosper on the corner of Rata and Oroua Streets in the quiet harbourside suburb of Eastbourne.

Project Crimson advises that today it would be more appropriate to plant Northern Rata in the Wellington region.

Source: RNZRSA Historian Dr Stephen Clarke

Related links:

Project Crimson
www.projectcrimson.org.nz