Elegant, accessible memorial planned

39 YEARS AGO TODAY: Today is the 39th anniversary of New Zealand’s worst civil aviation disaster. All 257 people on board Flight TE901 died when the plane crashed into Mount Erebus in Antarctica. Pictures supplied

After years of advocating, an aviation chaplain and historian, who spent time growing up in Gisborne, is pleased the Government will establish an Erebus national memorial.

Today marks the 39th anniversary of the Air New Zealand DC-10 crashing into Mount Erebus in Antarctica, killing all 257 people on board.

It is classified as New Zealand’s worst civil aviation disaster.

Rev. Dr Richard Waugh QSM will meet with the Minister for Arts Culture and Heritage, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and about 200 of the victims’ family members today, including Gisborne woman Kath Jones, who lost her parents, Bruce and Melba McMillan, in the crash.

Dr Waugh, who attended Gisborne Boys’ High School, initiated the Erebus national memorial advisory group in early 2016.

“There are several smaller memorials but there is no significant public place where all 257 names are displayed, and where people can gather to remember and have special times of contemplation, prayer and reflection,” he says.

Dr Waugh will begin today’s meeting with a prayer of remembrance and says the PM plans to hear stories from relatives.

“In all our discussions with Erebus families, it came through loud and clear that they were very much hoping for a memorial which would be elegant, accessible and not in a cemetery.

“The location in Auckland’s Parnell Rose Gardens will be a very appropriate place.”

The Government will spend $3 million on the memorial, hoped to be completed by May 2020, Auckland Council will provide the land.

“The plan was to have the memorial completed for the 40th anniversary but it is going to overshoot the date by a few months because of the magnitude of the project.

“While missing the 40th anniversary is regrettable, it is so important to get it right.”

A design for the memorial will be chosen from public submissions, which closed at the weekend.

Dr Waugh encourages Erebus family members to stay connected by registering at www.erebusnationalmemorial.nz