The restoration of the Leeston and Ellesmere County War Memorial got underway this week, with the works to protect the memory of those in Ellesmere who gave their lives for their country in war.
Christchurch stonemasons, Goldfield Stone, are carrying out the two-month restoration of the war memorial on High Street in Leeston on behalf of Selwyn District Council.
Goldfield Stone General Manager, Glenn Morris says the project will be a complete restoration including replacing the mortar, damaged stones and restoring the marble wreath and pediment stones.
As specialist stonemasons, Goldfield Stone has worked on some of New Zealand’s most prominent stone masonry jobs including the Bridge of Remembrance, and moving and restoring the Citizens’ War Memorial in Cathedral Square in Christchurch.
The war memorial, built in 1924, carries the names of soldiers from Ellesmere who died in the First and Second World Wars, as well as plaques acknowledging service in the South African, Korean, Malaya and Vietnam wars.
Working on war memorials is particularly rewarding, Mr Morris says.
“When you’re working on these monuments it makes you think about what these people went through and how they gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country and people. There are names there and working in the area they came from brings it all home.”
While the work is happening, fences and scaffolding will be in place around the memorial, which will be wrapped so the team can work during most weather conditions.
