Creative Waiouru soldier retires

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 483, 27 April 1993, Page 7

Creative Waiouru soldier retires

By

Jan

Savell

Dave Fitzwater is a man driven by the need to create. Right now he's creating a new life for himself. He retired from the Army on 26 March after 20 years service, almost 15 years of that at the Queen Elizabeth II Army Memorial Museum in Waiouru. "There's a challenge - I don't know of anyone who's been with one unit longer," said Dave or "Fitz" as he is known to everyone, from Generals to Privates. Fitz began working on museum projects when the present museum was only an idea. Then Waiouru's military artefacts were housed in an old cookhouse where the Recruit Company currently operates. Until then the Army had used his civilian background as a display artist in the recruiting and publicity areas. In 1989 he was awarded the MBE for his services to the Museum. Fitz has a deep compulsion to make things. Even his appointment as display artist for the Queen Elizabeth II Army Memorial Museum couldn't satisfy his creative urge. His home is full of things he has produced himself, whether they be craft items, clothes, tents or good food. "Fitz could never do creative work in his uniform," said a friend. "He'd have to get into overalls or

better still jeans and sneakers to do creative work." Fitz agrees. He believes there's something about a uniform that stifles creativity. "You just cannot be an artist in a uniform." When he's out of uniform and not making anything Fitz is outside getting his inspiration from the countryside. "It is the best place to think. You look at nature and it's all there." He was instrumental in setting up the Mountain Men group which meet annually in Waiouru to spend 10 days living the lifestyle of colonial America, wearing buckskin, living in teepees and using replica cooking utensils etc to recreate the whole lifestyle. "I had to organise a black powder shoot, the New Zealand Nationals, held on the Army range 14 years ago. I had no previous interest but what I saw I really liked." "I could see a lot more in the sport than was presently offered. It used to be 'dad's sport', no women or children were around. Now it is so much more a family sport. The whole family can share in the lifestyle of that era." It was twelve years ago that Fitz organised the first Mountain Man Shoot. Now the sport is so popular businesses exist which just supply replicas of that era to a growing number of

enthusiasts. The outdoors has always been an important part of Fitz's life. He is a keen deerstalker and also honorary fisheries and wildlife ranger for the area. He tests applicants for firearms licences for the Mountain Safety Council and is a team leader for Search and Rescue operations in the area. His retirement project is an old sawmilling town at Kopara, 60 km from Greymouth. Fitz and two other ex-soldiers, Steve Whitton and John Craig, purchased the abandoned town three years ago and have been gradually bringing the houses back to their original condition. They have plans to use it as a fishing lodge, a place that provides a cheap holiday for New Zealanders. "Deer come right to the back door and the brown trout are the best in New Zealand. We've probably got another 12 month's work. It is only the hardy types who stay there right now." Fitz won't be spending all his time catching trout though. He will be coming back to work in the Museum occasionally, contracted to help with particular displays. Captain Richard Taylor, Director of Public Programmes at the museum has convinced him to come back. "Such a large part of

what you see at the museum is work he has had an influence on, whether that

be planning or just dressing out. He breathes life into the displays."

"Sometimes he's like an unguided missile when he gets going. As one idea

goes into effect three more ideas are being formed. He is irreplaceable."