March-July 2017 Maritime Exhibition

[Walley T]

Just a mentIon to anyone coming to NZ, or who lives here attending the 2017 reunion early March in Christchurch. During 2014-16 I have been involved with a large project with college students on murals at Otaki College in conjunction with the battle at sea on March 10th 1917 between ss Otaki 2 (NZSC) and the German raider Mowe. (All on websites) An exhibition opens here at the Otaki Museum on March 10th 2017 and runs to July showcasing photos, models and my artwork on ships and people linked to NZ in WW1. Meanwhile in Scotland at Aberdeen, on the same date, an unveiling of my work produced for Robert Gordon's College/University is to signify the 100 years commemoration as it is this College where Captain Bisset Smith attended, who went on to be awarded posthumously for his bravery with Otaki 2 on that day.The German commander recalling it one the bravest acts of WW1 he had encountered at sea. Otaki is 70 kms north of Wellington in the North Island. As it is such a large project, also involving the Royal Navy I have invited another painter on board and may require a second one to assist in this maritime project which basically gives two unveilings 12,000 miles apart within 12 hours.
If anyone plans to pass through during this period and look at the work or even want to see the murals at the College, I will be quite happy to meet up . Wally