Web plan a world-first

LYN HUMPHREYS lyn.humphreys@tnl.co.nz - Taranaki Daily News Wednesday, 25 April 2007

A world first project is under way to record first-hand the experiences of New Zealand's Vietnam War veterans, says the chief historian for the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
The veterans - and their immediate families - will be able to key in their own memories, images, videos and diaries through the nzhistory.net.nz website.
"It's a very exciting project where the community can get involved," Bronwyn Dalley said in New Plymouth yesterday.
Ms Dalley spoke about the project at Puke Ariki yesterday during Anzac Day commemorjations.
Ms Dalley said the national project was a world-first website for war veterans and was modelled on the BBC's People's War website.
The BBC website, which ran for three years, encouraged WWII people to record their memories.
"It's the power of the individual experience rather than the big events which are so hard to identify with," Ms Dalley said.
The project was announced by the Government in December as part of a package for Vietnam Vets.
A project co-ordinator was about to be named, Ms Dalley said.
As with the World War II vets, the Vietnam vets will also have their own oral war history recorded. Ms Dalley said the WWII veterans' oral history programme had just been completed.
The call is now out to people across the country to assist in recording the oral histories, she said.
"We run workshops and provide some suggested questions and give people help.
"We do a big chunk ourselves but there are many more war veterans than we could ever get to."
About 3500 Kiwi men and women served in the Korean War and the same in Vietnam.
Ms Dalley also put out an urgent call to the Taranaki community to share all images of war memorials and rolls of honour.
Some are at risk of falling into disrepair, while others placed in community halls, schools and churches may not even be registered.
"There are a large number we don't have images for," Ms Dalley said.
"It happens in some schools - quite small things that are built into buildings. They are not necessarily big structures."
The interactive history of the memorials has just gone live and can be viewed on the nzhistory.net.nz website.
Locals, especially teachers of war history, are encouraged to click on to Taranaki and see the large numbers of war memorials in this region.
"It's a strong way that people can make their own connection. They can see their own lives reflected in the past."
Historic Places Trust should be contacted by anyone concerned at the possible loss of memorials at closed schools, or community halls, she said.
STUNNING panoramas of Gallipoli, including memorials and reconstructed trenches can be seen at anzac.govt.nz, Ms Dalley said.