Family saddened at loss of special sign from Arrowtown reserve

The council has apologised to the family of a long standing Arrowtown borough councillor after a sign at a reserve that takes his name was removed and disposed of without the family's knowledge.

Sandwiched between Nairn Street and the Arrow River, Wilcox Green honours Jim Wilcox, who first became a local councillor in 1956.

He served two separate stints on the council, a total of 21 years, the last three as deputy mayor, finishing up in 1983.

The council has upgraded a sign at Arrowtown's Wilcox Green, named after long standing Arrowtown borough councillor Jim Wilcox.

His son, Quintin Wilcox, says a recent video post to social media platforms by historian 'Arrowtown Echoes' telling people about the history of the public park and his father was the first he knew that a special sign bearing the family's name had been replaced.

Gone was the original wooden sign, created he says by a friend of the family, and in its place was a standard issue council alternative.

The sign had sentimental value, and Mr Wilcox says the family would have liked to have been given the opportunity to retain it.

"The significance of Wilcox Green was it used to be an empty, overgrown paddock...and him and other young lads at the time actually cleared it and made it into an ice skating rink that was actually quite a drawcard to the area."

After a bit of sleuthing, Mr Wilcox's sister Rachel discovered the old sign had likely ended up at the dump.

She says Arrowtown-based councillor Lisa Guy and council staff have since contacted her and apologised for the oversight and she is grateful for the care and empathy they have shown the family.

"It was a mistake, and I totally get that," she says.

"They've dealt with it really respectfully."

A spokesperson for the council says the sign was removed by members of the council's parks team "in good faith" in early July.

"It was in poor condition and considered to be at the end of its life."

The council recognises the significance of the sign and the reserve to the Wilcox family and has been in discussions with members of the family directly, the spokesperson says.

"We’ll provide an update to the wider community in due course."

Ms Wilcox says the incident has brought to light the importance of keeping families in the loop in situations like these.

She says a new public information panel detailing some of her father's achievements is now also being considered.

Mr Wilcox senior is described as someone who worked tirelessly for Arrowtown, as the president of the Lakes District Museum, a member of the fire brigade for 23 years, and the owner of the campground on Devon Street in additional to serving on local government.

He also worked at the Arrowtown Post Office behind the counter and on the phone exchange, and escorted The Queen Mother on her tour of the town in 1966.

His grandfather, Richard (Dick) Wilcox, was an early gold miner at Bullendale in the Upper Shotover in the 1890s.

Main image: An older wooden sign at Wilcox Green had sentimental value for one members of the Wilcox family.