A project under development for ten years is coming to fruition at Wānaka Airport.

An aviators’ memorial wall, situated in front of the airport cafe, Cross Winds, has been a labour of love for volunteers Jools Hall and Ralph Fegan.

The airport had a “fair few rocks” scattered around the area to commemorate various people, and Ralph came up with the idea of bringing them together in one place.

“We just wanted to get them on the wall and tell their stories,” Jools told the Wānaka App.

“Everyone on the wall has an incredible aviator story behind them and we felt it was important to tell them.”

She and Ralph made a list of potential names, with the criteria being anyone who had worked at the airport or was associated with it. This included retired World War II pilots who volunteered their time during the Warbirds Over Wānaka airshow.

“We’re asking families to reach out to us,” Jools said.

“We’ve got our list… it’s not exhaustive… but we haven’t got people’s contact details.”

Anyone who has ideas for who should be represented on the memorial can contact Ralph ([email protected]).

Ralph and Jools emphasised the memorial is “not a cemetery”, but a remembrance wall. 

“It was important for us to do it aviation-based - why these people were remarkable within the aviation community,” Jools said.

Wānaka Airport “is not just an airport”, the two agreed: “It’s got so much history - so much pioneering history.”

Because there is a limit to how much space is available on each plaque, there will eventually be a QR code at the site linking to the Wānaka Airport Users website, where each person’s stories and photos can be found.

“There are a lot of people who have lost loved ones, who quite often come out to the airport and just sit and watch the goings on - to feel connected,” Jools said.

“Our goal was to have somewhere that’s permanent as the airport changes and grows - and who knows what’s going to happen to the airport. This is somewhere permanent, a great place for people to come and have a coffee.”

Ralph designed the memorial so people can sit on the wall and read about the history. While the wall has been in place for some time, the plaques are “a work in progress”.

Ralph and Jools don’t want the cost involved in preparing a plaque to be prohibitive, and say there will be financial support for those who need it.

PHOTO: Wānaka App