Scandinavian Club of Manawatu Inc.
Unveiling the Memorial at Celaeno Park - 4 March 2001
The memorial was unveiled by Tom Halvorsen, a visitor from Årnes, in Romerike, Norway, whose relative, Carl Andreas Andersen, migrated to New Zealand on the Celaeno in 1870-1. The first Andersen farm was only a few hundred metres from the site of the memorial. The unveiling was being videoed for a planned documentary on emigration from Norway to New Zealand in the 19th Century.
The memorial, the base and installation of which was sponsored by Anderson Memorials of Palmerston North (in acknowledgement of their Danish heritage), reads: "In memory of the Scandinavian men, women & children who settled in Upper Manawatu from 1866 and Palmerston North from 1871. Dedicated at the 10th Scandinavian Gathering, 4-3-2001."
Tom Halvorsen and club president Val Burr moments after the actual unveiling.
Tom and Val checking out the inscription on the memorial
Descendants of the people who sailed on the Celaeno in 1870-1, including Tom, Britt and Elin (in white) Halvorsen, who are at the left of the group. The group shown here included descendants of the Andersen, Bergersen, Christensen, Johansen, Ihle, Pedersen, while the Hansen family had been represented earlier in the weekend's activities.
Descendants of the passengers aboard the England for its 1870-1 voyage were represented by members of the Berg, Lassen, Olsson, and Thomsen familes.
The paparazzi in action!!
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