Twelve Local Heroes

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The Twelve Local Heroes sculptures Twelve Local Heroes display.jpg
The Twelve Local Heroes sculptures

The Twelve Local Heroes is a series of bronze busts in the central city of Christchurch, New Zealand on Worcester Boulevard outside the Arts Centre to commemorate twelve local Christchurch people who were prominent in their respective fields in the latter part of the 20th century. Gone to Riccarton now.

Contents

History

The establishment of the commemorative sculptures was driven by the Twelve Local Heroes charitable trust. The project had been four years in the making before the bronze busts were unveiled on 18 March 2009. [1] [2] The artwork was produced by the sculptor Mark Whyte. [3]

Local Heroes

The Twelve Local Heroes can be grouped by having died prior to the project commencing, by agreeing to be included but having since died, and by being alive.

Deceased prior to project start

Members of this group had no influence on their inclusion as one of the Twelve Local Heroes, as they had died before the decision was made to create a memorial.

NameLife yearsDescription
William Sutton.jpg
Bill Sutton 1 March 1917 – 23 January 2000artist
Elsie Locke.jpg
Elsie Locke 17 August 1912 – 8 April 2001writer, feminist and social activist

Deceased since project start

Members of this group were asked and agreed to be included as one of the Twelve Local Heroes, but have since died.

NameLife yearsDescription
Charles Luney.jpg
Charles Luney 28 June 1905 – 18 November 2006building industry leader
Angus Tait.jpg
Sir Angus Tait 22 July 1919 – 7 August 2007electronics pioneer and businessman
Robertson (Bob) Stewart.jpg
Sir Robertson Stewart [4] 21 September 1913 – 13 August 2007industrialist and exporter
Donald Beaven.jpg
Professor Sir Don Beaven 31 August 1924 – 4 November 2009medical researcher in the area of diabetes treatment and prevention
Margaret Mahy.jpg
Margaret Mahy 21 March 1936 – 23 July 2012author of children's and young adult books
Diana Isaac.jpg
Diana, Lady Isaac 2 September 1921 – 23 November 2012conservation, arts and architecture benefactor
Miles Warren.jpg
Sir Miles Warren 10 May 1929 – 9 August 2022architect
Frank Dickson.jpg
Frank Dickson 11 May 1931 – 2 March 2023former Canterbury Savings Bank chief executive

Living

Members of this group were asked and agreed to be included as one of the Twelve Local Heroes, and are still alive today.

NameBornDescription
Richard Hadlee.jpg
Sir Richard Hadlee 3 July 1951former cricketer
Tipene O'Regan.jpg
Sir Tipene O'Regan 1 January 1939 Māori leader

The sculptures have been ]removed from their current position on Worcester Blvd to facilitate the post earthquake restoration of the Engineering block of the Arts Centre of Christchurch. Following the restoration, it was envisaged that they will return. But they haven't> GOne to Riccarton

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References

  1. Gates, Charlie (18 March 2009). "Local worthies in the bag". The Press. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  2. Hartevelt, John (19 March 2009). "Creative mistake for a creative writer". The Press. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  3. Whyte, Mark (2009). Twelve Local Heroes : a celebration : set of bronze busts commissioned by the Local Heroes Trust. Christchurch, New Zealand: Christchurch Art Gallery / Te Puna o Waiwhetu, 2009. ISBN   978-0-473-14878-2.
  4. Robertson Stewart, Christchurch City Libraries.

43°31′52″S172°37′43″E / 43.53106°S 172.62872°E / -43.53106; 172.62872