Nelson Weekly Locally Owned and Operated
tuesday 13 June 2017
We can fix it!
pharmacy to move into ex liquor store
Page 18-19
page 5
Jones’ Giants number retired
page 24
War heroes ‘deserve more’ Charles Anderson
WE SAY...
Journalist
charles@nelsonweekly.co.nz
Grace Lane was born at the twilight of WW1 and went on to serve the Allied cause in WW2 as a member of the Royal Air Force. She was deployed to Egypt as part of the Middle East Force and was a member of the London Fire Brigade during the Battle of Britain. She put her life on the line and served her country. But she met a Kiwi soldier in England and, after the war, moved to New Zealand with him when she was 30 years old. She lived in Nelson for her remaining years. Until she was 96, she was an active member of the Returned Services Association. “It meant a lot to her, serving,” says her daughter Christine Paris. “She had been through a lot.” So there was no doubt that when she died Grace would be buried in the Marsden Valley Cemetery - alongside others who had served in the military. But when Christine went to apply for an official military plaque that would outline her mother’s service, she was denied. “I went through all the paperwork and hadn’t heard anything. So I called them up. The woman on the phone said ‘I’m sorry to tell you this but the
Charles Anderson
Christine Paris with a photo of her mother Grace Lane who served for the Allied cause during WW2 but was denied a military plaque on her grave because she was a member of the Commonwealth. Photo: Charles Anderson. Government has pulled the plug’.” Due to recent legislation, which came into effect on 1 July 2016, Commonwealth veterans, who were previously entitled to a subsidised military plaque, are now denied that entitlement. The new Veterans’ Support Act says that the law should work to benefit those who served explicitly at the direction of
the New Zealand government. Commonwealth veterans, despite serving as part of the Allied cause in WW2, do not fit this description. The cost of the plaque, which is about $500, now has to be met by the veteran’s family or estate. “My mother was a proud member of the RSA and this has taken all that away,” says Christine. “She would have been really
upset. I think she earned it.” But her story is not unique. Earlier this month, Nelson Weekly told the story of London-born war hero John Beeching, who was set to miss out on the plaque reserved for veterans, because he has lived too long. If John, who has lived in Nelson for most of his life, had passed
SEE PAGE 2
Exclusive Stockists of Graham & Brown wallpaper
When we first reported the case of local war hero John Beeching being denied a war memorial plaque it took an age for officialdom to reply. It seemed there was no strong determination about why the change had been made. The minister, David Bennett, says the newly created Veterans Support Act was to help those who served at the direction of the New Zealand government - not those at the direction of Commonwealth governments. But the Nelson Weekly could not find any recommendation anywhere that suggested the explicit change. It is an amendment that seems to have slipped under the radar - even of the Returned Services Association. It is something that will affect dozens of WW2 veterans all around the country. Many these Commonwealth vets, like the family of Grace Lane, were under the assumption that their loved ones would get the honour they deserve. Now they won’t – unless they pay for it themselves. Veterans’ Affairs describes its mission as “serving those ... who have made sacrifices to ensure New
SEE PAGE 2 New to New Zealand
Top Quality Wallpaper
45 Vanguard St, Nelson (by the roundabout)
Phone 548 1114 accounts@gbnelson.co.nz www.guthriebowron.co.nz
New Zealand’s trusted decorating specialists Additional copies $1
100% locAlly owned And operAted
www.nelsonweekly.co.nz