Morgan Park

Ohinemuri Regional History Journal 36, September 1992

Waihi's Recreation Ground has always been known by that name, but in 1990 the Waihi Community Board decided to perpetuate the well known Morgan/Gilmore family name and rename it Morgan Park. The ceremony took place on Sunday, July 28, 1991 when long-time former mayor and mayoress, Owen and Rosemary Morgan together with members of the Morgan family, local dignitaries and over 100 members of the public gathered at the entrance of the park to formally name the area.

District Mayor, Basil Morrison, paid tribute to the contribution Owen and Rosemary had made and were making to the town, not to mention the rest of the Morgan family past and present. Mr Morrison mentioned Mr Morgan's 30 years of local body service to the Borough of Waihi, the last 12 as mayor. Mr Morgan was tributed as being instrumental in bringing Waihi forward from the mine closure in the 1950's to the position is today. He was not a yacker but a quiet doer said the Mayor as he reeled off the former mayor's achievements. These included several strata of local government, the Karangahake Walkway Committee, Waitawheta Camp, Goldfield Steam Train Society and the couple's ongoing work with the Waihi Drama Society.

Owen and Rosemary Morgan at the opening ceremony

Tribute was also paid by Maurice Cowan, Councillor on the Hauraki District Council and past Waihi Borough. He praised the community leader for his distinctive style which included being a good listener, being open-minded, a well-known local conservationalist as well as the support he had from the mayoress, Rosemary. He recalled a well-known Owen Morgan quote: "No matter what happens, Waihi will survive."

In his brief remarks, Owen paid tribute to his brother, Tom's, talents as an engineer enthusiast and his contributions the maker of various scale models in the Waihi Museum. Also, to his older sister, Margaret Cleary's long service as the College headmistress and head of the English department, and noted that teaching was still popular in the Morgan family. He also spoke about his father, Viv's, long involvement with Waihi which included forty years as Director of the School of Mines as well as his sporting interests.

The ceremony concluded with Owen and Rosemary formally unveiling the four metre long carved wooded sign bearing their family name.