The Star: November 30, 2017

Commemorations
3
Celebrating
rewi alley-
Canterbury’s
famous son
Top left: Rewi Alley with 1984
Christchurch delegation (a
young Councillor Vicki Buck in
the front)
Top right: Rewi Alley takes
a class in motor repairs,
Shandan Bailie, School, Gansu
Province, 1950s
Bottom left: Chairman Mao
Zedong shakes hands with
Rewi Alley, 1966.
December 2, 2017 marks the 120th
anniversary of the birth of Rewi Alley at
Springfield.
To celebrate the occasion, under
the auspices of the Rewi Alley 120th
Anniversary Commemoration Committee
Canterbury, 10 Canterbury organisations,
along with Rewi’s family, have come
together to highlight Rewi’s legacy.
Delegations totalling about 80 people from
China, including 17 from Rewi’s Chinese
family, as well as about 100 from around
New Zealand, are coming to Christchurch
to take part in commemoration activities.
Through these activities it is hoped to
present to a new generation the story of
this remarkable New Zealander, who had
a huge love and respect for the Chinese
people.
Rewi Alley went to China in 1927,
where he lived until his death in 1987.
His first job in Shanghai involved being
a fireman and factory
inspector. This opened his
eyes to the appalling living
and working conditions of
the ordinary people. Being the
quintessential Kiwi bloke he
was, he rolled his sleeves up and
went to work.
Over the next 60 years, through
civil unrest and Japanese invasion,
he toiled tirelessly, helping during
famine and flood, setting up
industrial co-operatives, establishing
schools and giving the rest of his
life to improving the conditions of
its people. He is one of the 10 most
revered foreigners in China.
Canterbury Museum benefitted from
his donations of many beautiful artefacts
(www.rewialleyart.nz), collected in China
over many decades.
Commemoration activities
the general public are invited to
attend are:
• Friday, December 1: 9.30am unveiling of a plaque to Rewi by Councillor Jimmy
Chen on behalf of the Mayor of Christchurch, at his former high school (Boys’
High) at the Christchurch Arts Centre, followed by a visit to a photographic
display on his life in one of the largest rooms in that same school. This display
runs until December 2, 10am-5pm
• A display at the Canterbury Museum of some of the Chinese artefacts Rewi
donated to that museum www.rewialleyart.nz
• Saturday,December 2: 10am: opening of the Garden of Reflection in
Chamberlain Park, Amberley by the Governor-General of New Zealand, Her
Excellency the Rt Hon Dame Patsy Reddy.
• 2pm: Commemoration ceremony and display of the memorial erected
20years ago at Rewi Alley Memorial & Park, Springfield.
For more info on Rewi’s life and work, go to www.rewialley.kiwi.nz
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