New fence protects soldiers' graves

COLIN SMITH/Nelson Mail

SHEEP-FREE: Nelson RSA committee member Brian Ramsay, right, and supplier David Turnhout, of Homeplus Nelson, look over the new fence at the Wakapuaka RSA Cemetery, where sheep had been wandering among the graves.

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Sheep can no longer wander into the Wakapuaka RSA cemetery, thanks to a new fence erected at the entrance.

Nelson RSA executive committee member Brian Ramsay said a generous grant from the Ministry of Veterans' Affairs had paid for the new gate and balustrade.

The RSA had wanted a new fence and gate at the cemetery, which holds the graves of World War 1 and World War 2 veterans and other servicemen, as the old wire fence was worse for wear and the gate was hanging on by only a couple of old nails, he said. There had also been problems with sheep getting into the cemetery.

A couple of returned servicemen had been looking after the cemetery but they had passed on, so it was a good time to bring the cemetery into the 21st century, he said.

The Nelson City Council had removed the old fence and contractors Homeplus Nelson had made and installed the new balustrade, made in the very fitting shade of army green.

- © Fairfax NZ News