OBITUARY WENDY PETTIGREW, 1947-2015
By PAUL BROOKS
with information supplied by Helen Craig
Wendy Pettigrew will be missed.
Her boundless energy and selfless dedication to heritage and history are what endeared her to many in Wanganui, and already we miss her rapid-fire commentaries on all things historical. Of course, her diagnosis with
motor neurone disease some 18 months ago and the subsequent progress of the debilitating disease took its toll on Wendy's exuberance and vocal abilities, but it didn't stop her working. The illness finally took her on August 12, this year.
On a number of occasions Midweek has asked Wendy for information on various aspects of Wanganui's history. She was always forthcoming, providing much more than was necessary. She never asked anything in return but we were always careful to acknowledge the impeccable source, and heaven help the reporter who got it wrong!
Wendy Katrine Pettigrew was born in Wanganui on July 13, 1947, the only child of Jim and Kitty Pettigrew.
After finishing Wanganui Girls' College and a year at Victoria University, Wendy headed overseas, eventually working in England in the field of conservation of national parks and trails via publications and PR campaigns. She played a major role in securing funding for major conservation projects such as Millennium Greens, Hadrian's Wall Trail, Pennine Bridleway and local heritage projects.
Wendy returned to New Zealand in 1997 and was involved in a huge number of initiatives and enterprises right up until her early death.
She was finance officer for Age Concern Wanganui for five years, running the fundraising campaign that culminated in the new building in St Hill St.
She was on the New Zealand Historic Places Trust (NZHPT) Whanganui branch committee, becoming secretary in 2003. She led the team researching heritage buildings which resulted in 48 buildings being added to the 2009 Wanganui District Council District Plan.
She researched and wrote the registration report for the Heads Rd Cemetery in 2007 and was a member of the NZHPT team in hearings regarding demolition proposals for Wanganui heritage buildings, including the Maori Land Court.
Wendy supervised the restoration project for St Mary's Church at Upokongaro, including preparation of conservation reports and restoration work on the renowned stained glass windows and uniquely shaped steeple. She also wrote a history of the church, published in 2005.
As a member of the Society of Architectural Historians of Australia and New Zealand, she gave a paper at the 2005 conference in Napier on the history of a Maori chief's house at Putiki (jointly with Mark Southcombe, a Wanganui architect). Also with Mark she was co-author of the 2004 Cultural Heritage Assessment for UCOL of the Quay School of the Arts buildings in Wanganui.
Wendy was a member of the Wanganui District Council Heritage Working Party until it was disbanded in 2005 and a member of the Mainstreet Wanganui Design Heritage Committee.
She was a trustee and organiser of the Wanganui Summer Programme and set up the Wanganui Regional Heritage Trust Board after NZHPT pulled out. She was also on the Earthquake Prone Buildings Task Force set up by the Wanganui District Council.
As well as all that Wendy was always able and willing to present talks and papers at conferences, lead heritage tours, give advice, do private research, write conservation reports and local histories ... and lend a hand in her field of expertise whenever needed.
Even when ill, she saw the Heritage Trust archives and resources made secure in a room at the Alexander Heritage and Research Library, and made sure that her own knowledge was written down and made available for future use.
Wendy received an award from the New Zealand Institute of Architects in 2010 for her work on the Wanganui District Plan heritage inventory, and she was the convenor of the five-year World War 1 centenary programme.
Last year, she was awarded the QSM for services to the community. Her well-attended funeral was held last Tuesday in the Wanganui Collegiate School Chapel; a fitting venue - she was christened there and also researched and wrote the history of the chapel. David Scoullar and Rev Richard Evans took the service. Wendy Pettigrew's energy, determination, focus and vast knowledge will be missed, as will the personality that was Wendy.