104 Dixon Avenue Hawera, street scene 2017
Reason for the name
The third of Hawera's streets associated with World War I - along with Grant VC and Laurent VC streets - is Dixon Avenue. Edwin Dixon (1867-1955) was mayor of Hawera from 1915 to 1923 and was well- known for his patriotic activities during and after the war. As mayor, Dixon committed himself to fare- welling each and every one of the drafts of young Hawera men who left for the front and he tried to be there when they returned - often, sadly, much reduced in numbers.
In 1919, Dixon, along with VC winners, Harry Laurent and Jack Grant, planted an oak tree in the grounds of the water tower to commemorate the peace. During the early 1920s Dixon was also called upon to unveil several local war memorials, like those at Alton, Ararata and Matapu. As chairman of the Peace Memorial Committee, he was also responsible for the erection of Hawera's war memorial arch in 1923-24.
Author: Glen Hansen Community Development Advisor
The third of Hawera's streets associated with World War I - along with Grant VC and Laurent VC streets - is Dixon Avenue.
Edwin Dixon (1867-1955) was mayor of Hawera from 1915 to 1923 and was well- known for his patriotic activities during and after the war. As mayor, Dixon committed himself to fare- welling each and every one of the drafts of young Hawera men who left for the front and he tried to be there when they returned - often, sadly, much reduced in numbers.
In 1919, he, along with VC winners, Harry Laurent and Jack Grant, planted an oak tree in the grounds of the water tower to commemorate the peace. During the early 1920s Dixon was also called upon to unveil several local war memorials, like those at Alton, Ararata and Matapu. As chairman of the Peace Memorial Committee, he was also responsible for the erection of Hawera's war memorial arch in 1923-24.
Dixon was born and educated in Wellington but came to Hawera as a young man and set up a music shop in High St which he ran for many years.
He was deeply involved in local educational and musical groups, being - at various times - a member of the Hawera School Committee, Wanganui Education Board, a governor of Wanganui Girls' College and later a member of the Taranaki Education Board.
He was also chairman of the Hawera Boy Scouts, president of the Chamber of Commerce, chairman and patron of the Municipal Brass Band and chairman of the Male Voice Choir.
A by-election in 1921 saw him elected as an MP for Patea, but he lost his seat the following year.
Dixon was a member of the New Zealand Methodist Conference for 25 years and a preacher at his local church for over 50 years.
In 1892 he married Elizabeth Ann Nicholson (1870-1944) and they had four daughters. Elizabeth, too, was involved with wartime patriotic affairs, the church and was an 'outstanding musician'.
Edwin Dixon died, aged 88, in 1955 and is buried in Hawera cemetery.
