Vela Lavella: The forgotten NZ gunner memorial

During NZ patrolling a year or so ago in the Solomons, an Op Rata patrol came across a forgotten and derelict Memorial to 15 NZ Gunners KIA during the landings on Vella Lavella  in Oct 1943.
The story of the landing, the location and rebuilding of the Memorial, and its dedication is in the attached documents (see below). In brief, there was no Govt, VANZ nor NZ Lotteries assistance for the rebuilding of the Memorial as it is not an official War Graves site.
All of the work has been done by volunteers and the cost of $2500-$3000 has been carried by local NZ High Commission and NZ Def staff, from their own pockets.
The RNZA Association is appealing for donations to defray the costs for those involved and to provide assistance to the local villagers to maintain the Memorial, by way of assistance in cement for the rebuild of the Village church in return for the congregation attending to the Memorial.
As far as I am aware, this is the only purely NZ gunner memorial in existence offshore, so it is an important piece of our history.
The Association has agreed to subsidize any donations dollar for dollar to $500.
Please send your donation by cheque to the Association, made out to the RNZA Association with a note “memorial donation”, or direct credit the RNZA account (38 9007 0694501 000) with Memorial in the reference field.
Ubique------------------------------------------------------------------------Attached:-
Barry Dreyer----------------------------------------------------------------.Restoration project . . .
Colonel Commandant-------------------------------------------------------The whole story . . .