KARORI CEMETERY 1918 INFLUENZA PROJECT
TODAY • The cemetery • The influenza epidemic • The project • Walkabout
THE CEMETERY • 1891-1965 • 100 acres (40 hectares) • c 85,000 interments • 3 heritage listed structures • 2 national monuments • 6 Prime Ministers, many Mayors
THE INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC • 50-100 million people worldwide • “Spanish” flu killed an estimated 50 -100 million people worldwide. It claimed more lives in a few weeks than either the Great War or the Black Death did in four years. It is estimated that about a third of the world's population was infected with the virus, and up to six percent died. ( www.undergroundhistory.blogspot.co.nz )
NEW ZEALAND • 2 distinct waves in New Zealand • Not introduced by Ward and Massey on board SS Niagara • Apparent in Auckland by late October, and appearing elsewhere almost simultaneously
DURATION AND PEAKS OCT NOVEMBER DECEMBER 28 30 1 3 4 6 8 10 11 13 15 17 18 20 22 24 25 27 29 1 2 4 6 8 9 11 13 15 Wellington Trentham Featherston Auckland Christchurch Dunedin
• 1st influenza death in Wellington
It was particularly virulent; it attacked the young and strong more than the weak and vulnerable; and it was a ferocious killer – an estimated 10- 20 percent of sufferers died. The young and fit bore the brunt while the very young, the old and infirm escaped more lightly - the reverse of the usual pattern. (www.undergroundhistory.blogspot.co.nz)
Who died? • Healthy, mature adults. Spared infants and elderly. • Men more than women • Soldiers in training camps • Rich and poor • Nurses and doctors • Families – multiple deaths • Maori • Rural areas as well as urban
KARORI CEMETERY BURIALS Nov Dec TOTAL Catholic 116 21 136 16% Anglican 154 40 193 23% Public 338 61 397 48% Soldiers 99 10 109 13% Jewish 7 0 7 >1% 714 132 842
BURIALS PER DAY AT KARORI
KARORI CEMETERY 19 NOVEMBER Catholic 11 Anglican 11 Public 28 Soldiers 13 TOTAL 63
AGE Nov Dec TOTAL 0-20 years 96 22 118 21-40 years 386 64 450 41-70 years 141 34 175 71-90 years 17 6 23 Misc 65 4 69 705 130 835 SEX Nov Dec TOTAL Male 521 76 597 Female 133 48 181 Unknown 51 6 57 705 130 835
THE PROJECT Aims 1. Collective memory 2. Heritage values 3. Improve access Activities 1. Working bees 2. Family history research 3. Seminars/workshops
THE PROJECT • 2-years duration • Volunteer involvement • Partnership with WCC, local genealogists, and other groups • Outputs
WORKING BEES 11 December 2016 28 January 2017 Guardian Memorials – How to Clean a Headstone 29 Jan 2017 25 February 26 Feb 25 March WCC Archives – Adrian Humphris, Chief Archivist 26 Mar 29 April The Epidemic in Wellington – Gabor Toth, WCC Historian 30 April 27 May 4 th & 11 th November 28 May 12 November 9 December Guardian Memorials – How to Clean a Headstone 10 December
Working bees • What to bring – Gardening gloves – Sun protection – Drink – Old toothbrushes
More Information • http://undergroundhistory.blogspot.co.nz/ • Black November: The 1918 influenza epidemic in New Zealand. Professor Geoffrey Rice. 2 nd edition 2005 • http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/culture/influenza -pandemic-1918
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