RSA Review - Summer 2013

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SUMMER 2013

changing of guard

Change, in the form of business restructuring, has swept through the Opotiki County RSA. The aim is to turn the club into the ‘vibrant hub of the town’. Story: page 3. Photo: Sven Carlsson, Opotiki News

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Remembering

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Health & Well-being

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What’s New

The

Binge and Booze

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Binge drinking a Kiwi tradition?

Two women surface Loneliness bad for in WW1 man’s world health – research

Dardenelles dame duo

Is there anything new in the current wave of binge-drinking – or is it just part of New Zealand’s frontier tradition?

Photographs of 200 World War 1 soldiers unearthed in Wellington include two women. Te Papa staff are working to ID them.

New Zealand diva Malvina Major will belt out the wartime Vera Lynn classics in a cruise-ship concert at Gallipoi 2015.

Weak social connections carry a similar health risk to alcoholism and excessive cigarette smoking, according to UK research.

Visit us online at www.rsa.org.nz


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RSA REVIEW • SUMMER 2013

News The official publication of the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services Association Volume 90 No. 4 Summer 2013 Published December , 2013

In this issue 02 News 06 National 06 Binge and Booze 12 Lost Trails 14 Last Post 18 Health, Well-Being 25 Classifieds 30 What’s New For RSA Review enquiries and subscriptions, contact: RSA Review Anzac House, 181 Willis Street PO Box 27 248, Wellington 6141 Phone 04 384 7994 Fax 04 385 3325 rsareview@rnzrsa.org.nz www.rsa.org.nz Last Post, What’s On and Lost Trails are placed in RSA Review as a free service. PUBLISHER: James Lynch Ph (03) 983 5500 james@waterfordpress.co.nz EDITOR: Dion Crooks Ph (03) 983 5505 dion@waterfordpress.co.nz

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v8s ready to rev with kiwi rsAs Dion Crooks

What could be New Zealand’s biggest Anzac Day service looms on the 2014 horizon following the V8 Supercars move to adopt the RSA as its charity of choice. April 25 falls on the Friday of four days (Auckland 24-27) of ITM 500 Auckland V8 Supercars racing, which lays claim to being the biggest annual trans-Tasman sports event. V8 Supercars made a successful return to the Pukekohe Park Raceway this year, with 117,167 patrons attending across the three days. RSA chief executive David Moger says the two parties are working through the “hot off the press“ deal. The national body will work with the Pukekohe & Districts RSA and the event organisers on preparing the Anzac Day programme and ancillary events. An afternoon start to racing is proposed for Anzac Day which, year by year, will work its way through the programme. The public will be invited to be part of a morning programme devoted to honouring the Anzac tradition that binds the two nations. While the nuts and bolts have yet to be worked through, Moger says the RSA will have the opportunity for a lot of promotion – special events at the Pukekohe RSA, a poppy collection and lead-up activities and parades to Anzac Day at the raceway, special events and dinners. All 14 racing teams will help with promotions, and will march in an Anzac Day parade. “It’s an Anzac occasion and an event that captures the Anzac spirit of courage, camaraderie, compassion and commitment. It’s not New Zealand against Australia. There’s a mix of Kiwis and Aussies in the manufacturers’ racing teams – drivers, pit crew, back of the house. It’s Kiwis and Aussies standing shoulder to shoulder as they did at Gallipoli.” The idea came from V8 Supercars, but Moger says they were very respectful of Anzac Day and its significance, and the proposal would

Rangiora RSA president Ian Thompson (left) and RNZRSA Canterbury-Westland president Pat Duggan (right) get to know driver Greg Murphy during a V8 Supercars promo at ITM stores around the South Island.

not have gone ahead without RNZRSA blessing. Graham Rouse, manager event design and development for Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development (which handles the event infrastructure outside the raceway) is enthusiastic about RSA involvement. “It will change the complexion of the event,” he says. “It will enable us to offer people a special experience. People will be able to be part of the traditional Anzac Day service and then watch the motor racing. It’ll be more than just a sports event; it’ll be an event that epitomises the true Anzac spirit.” Although the organisational detail has yet to be firmed, he says ATEED will provide free transport to Pukekohe for those with Supercars tickets, and organise a ‘fan trail’ (food, roving performers and entertainers, face-painting etc) along the one-kilometre walk from the train to the raceway. “The bond between Australian and New Zealand is built of legend,” says V8 Supercars’ chief executive officer, James Warburton, in a media release.. “It is an honour to stage this event on Anzac weekend, which holds enormous significance on both sides of the Tasman.”

Clutha runs dry until March Peter Owens The Clutha District RSA won’t know until next year if it will be allowed to sell liquor in its clubrooms. The club’s application has been approved by police, health authorities and the local district council. But three objections (one since withdrawn) have been received from Balclutha residents, and it is mandatory that an Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority hearing be held to make a decision. The authority has told the RSA that a hearing will not happen until February or March. Club president Des McBride says it appears the objections relate to the opening hours the RSA has applied for. There appears to be some misunderstanding because the club has applied to operate between 7am and 1am to cover Anzac Day commemorations. However, the club – which has more than 70 members, the youngest of them 18 – does not intend to open for such long hours on a regular basis, he says. Despite this problem, he says the entire club is backing the application for a liquor licence and is determined to be operative as soon as possible. In the meantime, members plan to open a couple of nights a week to serve food, tea and coffee. McBride emphasises that if the RSA is granted a licence, it will be open only to members and invited guests, and will not be a public bar. It will be run by volunteer members, who will have to gain a bar-manager licence at their own expense. Executive committee members say the RSA is an important part of the community, and running a club is a means of maintaining the building. It is eight years since the Clutha District RSA operated from its premises in Clyde St, the main street of Balclutha. Over most of that time members have used the facilities at a tavern that leased the premises from the club. However, just over 12 months ago, the tavern ceased trading and handed in the liquor licence that applied to the property.

ANZAC ballot: don’t LET FIGURES scare YOU OFF Dion Crooks Don’t be spooked by media talk of big numbers applying for the ballot for places at the 2015 Gallipoli Anzac services. That advice comes from the people behind what are probably the two definitive tour programmes on offer out of New Zealand. Innovative Travel Ltd managing director Robyn Galloway, who has wide experience in battlefield and Mediterranean tours, urges Kiwis not to be put off by media talk of 40,000-plus people being interested in the New Zealand and Australian ballots. New Zealand has an allocation of 2000 seats and Australia 8000. She contends that the Australian and New Zealand ballots are separate, and it is misleading to bandy around combined numbers. Just how many there are from each country, no one knows. “The worst thing would be if people were put off by the negative message and did not enter the ballot because they felt they had no chance.” Steve Parson, from House of Travel Palmerston North, agrees that people should not get carried away with these figures. Instead, they should just get on and apply for the ballot. “They’re just a number, and no one knows. No matter what the number is, you’ve got to

Postive and cautionary words: Robyn Galloway (far left) and Steve Parson (left).

treat the ballot on a ‘you’ve got to be to win’ basis. You must register in the ballot to have a chance of a place.” The New Zealand ballot opened in November and will close on January 31. The names of the successful applicants will be released on March 31. Both companies offer people the opportunity to book on their tours contingent on winning a place, and a refund on deposit if they are unsuccessful. Those successful in the ballot will not be able to transfer their place to other people. Both tour companies have declared themselves happy with the ballot timing and arrangements,

which will give people firm answers more than 12 months out from the event. However, Robyn Galloway does have a word of caution for those booking on cruises and wanting to trabsfer ashore to go to the dawn service at Anzac Cove. “You need to be certain your cruise ship will be in the Dardenelles by April 24,” she says. “Any later, and there’s no guarantee there will be enough time to tender you ashore, get you across the peninsula, and allow you time to make the 8-kilometre walk to Anzac Cove. Ballot website: www.gallipoli2015.govt.nz.


News

RSA REVIEW • SUMMER 2013

The guard changes at OPOTIKI Sue Russell Change has been sweeping through the Opotiki County RSA over the last few months. It has been guided by manager/secretary Tui Horua who, since taking up the role in April, has been busy implementing new management, staffing and resourcing structures. “We feel the changes will turn this RSA into a vibrant hub of the town.” Driven by changing liquor laws, new techn ology, and the need expressed at National Council for RSAs to re-invent themselves and let go of their closed-door policies, Opotiki restructured in September. Horua has assembled a new management staff, extended the restaurant hours, revamped the menu, and bought a new till system and computers. All with the aim of running systems more efficiently and in the interests of freshening up customer service. Even the relatively simple decision to turn the handle of the chiller around so that bar staff get them out for patrons has made a difference. Essentially, the club is looking outwards into its community and working to make better use of its modern building and facilities. The re-energised restaurant scene, now catering to the public as well as club members, is starting to make a real difference to the bottom-line, Horua says. “We employ the chefs and kitchen staff and they have a budget. In the first week with new hours and a new menu, we turned a net profit. The second week we trebled that.” There are new challenges every day, but she has discovered the locals are a nice group of people. “There have been one or two who haven’t liked to see things change, but that happens

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Friends to resurrect RSA in Palm North Dion Crooks

New blood: From left, Lisa August, Priscilla Daly, Raylene Morunga, Tia Ratapu and Tui Horua are part of the group intent on widening the Opotiki RSA’s appeal to the community. Photo: Sven Carlsson, Opotiki News

everywhere. I think that what we’ve implemented will start to make real differences to this club of 1100 members.” She says staff have coped admirably with the new ways, but she recognises everyone copes

with change in their own way and time. She is familiar with the club business, having moved from to Opotiki from the Wainuiomata Memorial RSA where she had been for two years. To page 5

A small group of former Palmerston North RSA members is working towards re-establishing an RSA at the Terrace End Bowling Club. Don Robertson, who heads a group known as the Friends of Palmerston North RSA, says the decision to go ahead at the bowling club was made at a meeting in early December. The Terrace End option was favoured over becoming an adjunct of the Palmerston North Cosmopolitan, with which the group had also had discussions, because the RSA could retain its independence. “We can be a separate entity and maintain control over what we do,” says Robertson. He says a meeting will be held on February 7 to nut out the format, decide on a name, and work through the formalities of forming a club. The Palmerston North RSA went into receivership early this year, owing $2.15 million to creditors. Bad investments and a loss of its original purpose have been blamed for its demise. The club’s former headquarters were bought by a development company for $1 million at a mortagee auction in November. Don Robertson says the sale of the building provided the impetus for him to form Friends of the Palmerston North RSA, an incorporated society, in an effort to keep members from going their separate ways. “My thrust all along has been to not focus on what we have lost, but instead on what we can do to keep the membership together,” he said at the time. “When you look at Anzac Day and the way children and families and veterans come out for it, that is the heart of everything and we don’t want to lose that in Palmerston North.” He says Anzac Day commemorations have been secured for 2014.


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RSA REVIEW • SUMMER 2013

old soldiers throw themselves at Dion Crooks A pilot course of cooking and exercise sessions has got the thumbs up from the nine Papanui RSA men involved. “It has been A1 to me. We’ve enjoyed it,” says Hunter McGahy. Bernie Clark backs him up: “It’s a great thing to have been able to do through the RSA. We’ve been pretty regular about coming, we know what we’re missing out on if we don’t come.” For eight weeks, the nine of them have been doing weekly three-hour sessions of cooking and nutrition as part of a special RSA pilot programme under the North Canterbury Health Board’s Senior Chef scheme. Senior Chef aims to help elderly people improve their confidence, motivation and skills in cooking for one or two people. The Papanui contingent have also been doing a weekly hour of exercise (over 10 weeks) with two physiotherapists at the Rannerdale Veterans’ Care gymnasium. These comments round up to an A1 consensus across the group, all of them aged between 75 and 82. Certain words keep popping up – ‘enjoyment’, ‘fun, ‘great idea’, ‘hilarity’, ‘banter’ and so forth. Even ‘It’s bloody good there are no women to tell you what do’. (We think that was tongue in cheek). Apart from cooking/nutrition tutor Dee Wilson and Muscle People physiotherapists Zoe Rippon and Gillian Bavis, of course.

We’ve got a diploma in proteins, carbohydrates and vegetables.

Anzac Day Cruise 2015

These blokes reckon they’re just the ticket. Dee, they say, has opened up their vista on cooking and the variety of their repertoire, introduced them to new and different ideas, different ways of doing things, more variety, little things that give a simple dish a lift, such as spices and seasonings. They’ve also extended their knowledge of nutrition and learned to value a notion of a balanced diet. As one of them put it, “We’ve got a diploma in proteins, carbohydrates ad vegetables”. She, in turn, loves their attitude: “They just get and do it, and go with the flow.”

Her aim has been to promote “sensible eating, while taking personal problems into account”. She admires the way they have stuck at it, helped one another and enjoyed that they have been doing and making. All agree it has helped that they knew one another before they started and that they have been able to do the course as a group. While all of them went through CMT in the 1950s, it has been their common membership of the Papanui RSA that has provided the link for most of them. They are unanimous that the mix of cooking and exercise has been no pushover. Each session – the preparation, cooking and eating of food, and then cleaning up – been “full on...we’ve been on our feet with our brain in gear”. And the weekly hour of concentrated exercise has awakened long-lost or long-immobilised muscles that have signalled their re-emergence through stiffness and soreness. But, to a good military man, they agree they feel better for the exercise. And, like good military

men, they have negotiated the odd obstacle through a potion of good humour, plenty of wisecracks, a hefty dose of determination, and Kiwi ingenuity. Physios Rippon and Bavis say the exercise schedule is a mix of warm-up, cardio, strengthening (two minutes per exercise on a 15-station circuit), and balance work. The ante has been raised gradually (harder and more repetitions) as they have gone along, and progress is recorded. The aim is to improve capability, and with it their enjoyment of what they’re doing. And the two physios repeat the same story of the blokes encouraging one another, never being short of a word of advice, and making the most of the social aspect of the occasion. All of this, they say, has been a major source of motivation. And each session is rounded off with that crucial Kiwi social item – a cuppa, which allows them to relax together and reinforces the message that the exercise “not too serious”.

PHOTOS:Top: Tutor Dee Wilson gets plenty of attention and assistance – from left, Len, Hunter, Rowan and Bernie. Left: Bevan (left), Colin (centre) and George supervise Dee.

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RSA REVIEW • SUMMER 2013

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the kitchen sink The impetus for the pilot combo of cooking/ nutrition and exercise is part of Rannerdale Veterans Care’s move into a broader role in community health and welfare. The organisation has long been synonomous with the Rannerdale Veterans’ Home in Christchurch, but Rannerdale Veterans’ Care is seeking to position itself beyond that longstanding association. It wants to involve itself in and to advocate for the health and wellness of older people, particularly veterans, in a much broader way. “We’re no longer just about residential care, we provide home-based care and support for veterans,” says Steve Shamy, general manager of Rannerdale Veterans’ Care. “We also want to develop partnerships with communityhealth organisations and engage with the wider community. “We see it as much more cost-effective to move in this direction. The hospital will become a smaller proportion of our activities.” Ex-servicemen and women, and RSA members as a logical part of this structure, and he

George and Colin build strength in the gym.

emphasises that they will remain a central part of Rannerdale’s activities even though it seeks to broaden its scope. “They are often living alone, and prone to depression, mental illness, strokes, heart disease, lifestyle complaints, and problems arising from alcohol,” he says. They are also often at the bottom of the ladder when it comes to support. Shamy says Rannerdale would like to advocate for all vets, but particularly the older men, who are an at-risk group: “We would like to promote an ethos of health and wellness, and support them. The promotion of independence and healthy lifestyle amongst the elderly, helping with rehabilitation after illness or surgery, and support for those with pension and/or welfare issues are areas he mentions as possible spheres of interest for the organisation. Rannerdale’s approach to the Papanui RSA on the cooking/exercise idea was part of this philosophy, and he says the Papanui management was very receptive. So too were the Manchester Unit Trust (which has funded the programme), the Canterbury District Health Board Older Persons’ Health unit (which runs the Senior Chef programme) and the St Albans Neighbourhood Trust (which has supplied the venue). “We want to see if a nutrition/exercise approach could be cost effective way of reducing the time older people spend in hospital,” says Sharmy. Vets are obviously a group we can reach out to.” It’s also good for RSAs to be seen as more than just a place to come for a drink, he adds. The results of the review of the pilot programme will determine what happens next, but the signs suggest feedback will be positive. And, as Steve Sharmy indicates, Rannerdale may well look at other possibilities as well.

Local resident Carol wishes she had found the ‘paperless’ Bidet toilet seat years ago. “It’s marvellous” she says. “I’ve always wanted a Bidet in my bathroom. I had heard that a Bidet would assist me, as my arthritis and bad back had made going to the loo an onerous task. I had been held back by the cost and space required by a stand-alone unit”. Carol says her luck changed when she saw an ad in a paper a few months ago placed by The BIDET SHOP® for the Bidet toilet seat. It read, ‘This Bidet simply replaces your existing toilet seat and will automatically clean you without toilet paper’, and also it said ‘installation is simple”. After reading that, Carol said she was so excited that she decided to call The BIDET SHOP® and nd out more about this Bidet. She spoke to a gentleman called Stephen who explained that apart from the comfort factors of a heated seat and other great ideas incorporated into the Bidet, the toilet seat has many health bene ts. He then said how the seat worked and pointed out that once you had nished doing your business, “You simply pressed the bottom wash or feminine wash

A major refurbishment of the Opotiki RSA was carried out five years ago.

Guard – and outlook – changes at Opotiki From page 3 “I applied for the job at Opotiki sensing it was time for a new challenge. She says an extremely good president, Gavin Nicol, has been instrumental in helping the club settle into new ways of doing things.. “He is very good on the RSA side of club life with welfare of veterans. I am quite lucky to have someone with that background, and he is well respected within the vets.” The club’s oldest member, 103-year-old Brian Mansell, and his wife come to the club each Friday for the reading of the Ode. Under the new management structure, there are two senior administrators, each responsible for specific areas. They report to Hurua, giving her “a really good feel for how the club is developing and where challenges lie”. “One is responsible for the restaurant, the other takes care of the bar and gaming functions. It leaves me freed of the daily functions associated with these activities so that I can concentrate on new strategies. “Next we will develop a business plan and cement goals as to where we want to be in five years.” She says the club looks modern and inviting, after a major refurbishment five years ago.

button and the Bidet provides a stream of warm water to clean you thoroughly. The in-built fan then dries you off with warm air, without the need for toilet paper”. Carol said that although The BIDET SHOP® offered to send out a brochure pack, she decided to order a Bidet seat straight away. Well, it arrived a few days later at no extra charge... The toilet seat was so simple to install and as she had been told, it tted perfectly on her original toilet bowl. Carol said the Bidet is the best investment she had made in her personal health and hygiene in years and no longer nds going to the loo an issue. “Give it a go” she says, “I did and I couldn’t be happier”. Call The BIDET SHOP® on (09) 889 0778 (Local) or 0800 450 837 (National).

RSA-branded glasses are now being phased in. Changes in the licensing structures have been integral to opening the doors to the public to access the restaurant. As an RSA the club holds a club licence which places restrictions on who can be inside its walls and the type of activities that can regularly take place. The way forward was to adopt a similar process to a Tauranga club. “We had to essentially split the building, in terms of its licensing status, in two. To do this we established a company to apply for an onlicence to cover the restaurant area. This meant non-RSA club members could come in and enjoy meals without any membership restrictions.” While the restaurant is open to the public, the rest of the RSA building still holds a club licence, preserving the rights of its members. Impetus for the changes also came from local council concerns about the number of special licenses the Opotiki RSA had been applying for. The club has been the central focus for fundraising activities for Tyler Shultz, who has cerebral palsy and needs an operation at a hospital in the United States. “This is something really special for us,” says Horua. “We have to create all sorts of ways to help Tyler and his family. It is, after all, what a club is all about, surely.”


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RSA REVIEW • SUMMER 2013

National Office

WWI centenary reminds us of why the rsa came into being Don McIver, RSA national president

I attended the launch of Operation Neptune – the project to engage us all in the celebration of the Royal New Zealand Navy’s 75th anniversary in 2016 – at the Navy Museum, at Torpedo Bay, Auckland in early December. The RSA will be right behind the Navy in these celebrations. It is a reminder of the very busy programme of remembrance and commemoration we can look forward to over the next FIVE to six years. Not only are there those nationwide centenary commemorations of the major events of World War 1, in which our RSAs countrywide will play an important and integral part, but there are the 70th anniversaries of the major battles of World War 2 – next year Cassino and D Day. For the RSA, 2016 is a very special year too,

as we celebrate the centenary of the formation of our founding organisation, The Returned Soldiers’ Association. The remembrance committee is now turning its focus towards how we will commemorate and celebrate such a keystone event in our, and in the nation’s, history. It is also a reminder that those veterans who set up the RSA in 1916 did so because they saw the need to remember the deadly toll of those who did not return, and to look after all those who had returned from conflict, injured and traumatised by their stark experiences at Gallipoli and, later, on the Western Front and in Palestine. We have the same important duty today and, by the time you read this, the RSA will have

presented its submission to the Social Services’ Select Committee on the Veterans’ Support Bill. Consideration of the bill is on track to be passed into law by June 2014 and for Scheme One – for veterans who served April 1, 1974 – to be implemented. It has been a long and, some would say, too slow a road, but we believe that if our submissions are heeded, we will have good, modern law to look after veterans. The other event which will have a profound impact on the future of our iconic organisation is the Independent Review Task Force set up by the 2013 National Council management. It will examine RSA management and governance issues from first principles and in detail, will fully consult with the membership, and

will propose range of improvements at National Council 2014. Here is our chance to ensure we have a modern and relevant organisation which, on behalf of our membership, can carry our heritage and traditions, our expectations and our desires, our concerns and our commitments forward into the future. Your support is essential to its success. It has not been an easy year for many in the RSA. Now is the time to sit back, reflect on the lessons we have learned and the experience we have gained. Have a pleasant and relaxing Christmas and New Year. We will see you in 2014 with your batteries charged and ready to take on the new challenges we face.

CHANGE IS IN THE AIR David Moger, RSA chief executive As we end this year and head into 2014, it’s time to reflect on the year that has been, and the opportunities to come. There’s no doubt that a period of tough trading conditions has impacted on RSAs, but we’re beginning to see real evidence of a change in the economy. As we head into summer I believe we’ll see more and more people coming into RSAs. We look forward to welcoming back those we haven’t seen for a while, and to greeting the new faces that will come through our doors. I’ve visited many RSAs this year and it has been exciting to see how the new RSA brand has been used to reach out to more New Zealanders. The Birkenhead RSA has refurbished its building using the new branding and has already seen more members join as a result. At the other end of the country, the Gore & District RSA has created a state-of-the-art kids’ area, which has been deemed so ‘cool’ by its young users that they’re inviting their friends to come along to the RSA – and they’re bringing their parents too. But it’s not just the visual aspects of our brand that are drawing people into our RSAs. People are connecting with our vision of being at the heart of the community where we honour and value service, and champion the Anzac spirit across all generations.

A billboard advertises the Avondale RSA, Glen Eden RSA and Henderson RSA section of the West Auckland Idol contest.

There has certainly been a lot going on around the country in 2013 with RSAs setting out to appeal to a new generation of members, and we congratulate them for their innovation in a challenging market. It’s also heartening to see older members warmly welcoming the younger generation into our clubs. Another great thing we’ve witnessed this year is RSAs working together like never before. In West Auckland, RSAs joined forces to put on a West Auckland RSA Idol competition. Performances moved around the RSAs in the area and the popular competition brought many new people into the clubs and had a great impact on attracting current members back. This speaks to

the spirit of camaraderie upon which the RSA was established. The RSA has also been positively promoted on a national level and Auckland RSA patron Trelise Cooper has helped raise our profile even further. The standing with which the RSA movement is regarded can be seen when V8 Supercars was offered the opportunity to race at Pukekohe over Anzac weekend. The organisation’s first thought was to approach the RSA to ensure that the sacrifices made by our service personnel were honoured and that they could be a part of the commemorations. The result is that drivers and pit crew will attend services on Anzac morning

at the Pukekohe RSA and then involve our veterans at the races in the afternoon. It’s a fitting partnership, as V8 Supercars and the RSA both share the values of courage, commitment and camaraderie. With 130,000 people expected in Pukekohe over the weekend, this will be one of New Zealand’s largest events. Above all that, we are now entering the WW100 period where our nation will commemorate World War I and the sacrifices made by our servicemen and women and their families. New Zealand wants and expects us to take a leading role in the commemorations and celebrations, and we are in a strong position to do just that. Our clubs are well placed to provide a great venue for all generations to relax and enjoy themselves, as well as continuing to be a place of remembrance. Many of our members will see that as they travel over the summer making the most of the network of RSA clubs around the country and the great welcome that they’ll receive when they visit. Take advantage of the RSA hospitality around the country, pop in and say hello, make new friends and above all enjoy the holiday season. From all us here at National Office, stay safe and have a great Christmas and a fantastic New Year.

RSA With a View: Alistair Kerr

Clubs adapt, innovate as RSA movement enters ‘watershed phase’ of life It’s interesting to reflect on how our RSA, as a national institution, is going through what seems to be a watershed phase in its life. As time bears away the last of the Returned men who represented its founders, we are refocusing our efforts on ensuring we survive to honour their memory. This, for me, was emphasised in two articles in the last issue of the RSA Review – both of which showed how some local associations are working in that direction.

In Pukekohe, they are recognising and celebrating the contribution of what they have designated “recent veterans”. And, in Howick (Auckland), they are taking the opportunity to present their club as a familyfocused venue. In one case, wise heads have seen the need to maintain our “image” by attracting such ex-service people as may be available in these (relatively) peaceful times. In the other, by presenting their club’s new

concept as a desirable social rendezvous. I do hope that each one of these articles has been read and discussed by executive committees up and down the country, because I am sure they point the way in which the RSA should be going. By the very nature of its founding membership, the RSA has been a somewhat conservative institution, with any big change regarded with some misgiving. But it does seem that since the “rebranding”

project, this attitude is changing as members see change as a matter of survival. So, given these two examples as an inspiration, what can your club do? Well, first you could seek out, identify and contact any of these “recent veterans” in your area. That could include those who have served in peacekeeping projects in Bosnia, Afghanistan and Timor L’Este, for example. If they aren’t To page 7


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RSA REVIEW • SUMMER 2013

Your letters Anzac Day change ‘has gone too far’ Many years ago I went to the 11am Anzac service with my boy-scout troop. Then it was a sacred day. A full day of grief and thanksgiving and duty done to the full. Later the time was right for a change to a half-day of remembrance, for the pain was less and the future had arrived. Now it seems to be more of a time of history to help children of peace understand who we are and to acknowledge those who made it possible. But it seems to me that the process has gone too far. In our parade we have seen a woman in high heels prancing along, giggling and waving to the crowd. A young man using the occasion to display his ‘Save the Whales’ t-shirt. And those other men who no one seems to know – are they just wannabees? In the town up the road they have Maori singing, drowning out the bugle, and no longer bother with the national anthem. It seems to me that it is time to emphasise that Anzac Day is an occasion of contact between the public and returned servicemen and women. A time to remember those who left these shores in the service of their country and did not return. In our town, the Returned and Service Association has a standing request from the district council to assist with and to organise Anzac events. But it is more than just their event. I would like to see veterans encouraged to parade in their wheelchairs behind the flagbearers, followed by those who have worn the uniform of our operational services, and clearly identifiable to the public in their own platoon. These are the veterans the public wish to

recognise and thank with their applause. Others are welcome, but not in a mingle with veterans. J.T.FORD NZ 15096 (Blenheim)

Piper calls the tune In the spring issue of RSA Review is a story about the troopship Wahine. I also was on the Wahine and I must make a correction – it was Cairns, and not Townsville, where we landed and marched through the town. I was a piper who led the march. Later in 1951, on New Year’s Eve at Div Headquarters in Korea, my commanding officer, Jack Wray, (of H Troop, known as How Troop), asked me to play the pipes over the Artillery network at midnight, which I did. Years later when I was driving for the Mount

Cook Company, I met up with a driver for Newman’s Motors, in Nelson. On one of his trips to Christchurch, he was waiting at one of the many one-way bridges on the east coast when a car ran into him; from then on, he was known as ‘Crash’. In one of our meetings the subject of Korea came up. When he found out that I had been there, he said he had nearly got there. He was on the Wahine and was at the wheel when we hit the reef (the nickname was very apt). His name was Noel Walker. Here in Bundaberg we have a group of Korean War veterans. Our meetings are on the second Monday of the month, but there is no meeting in January. We meet socially on Saturday morning at the local RSL for the raffles and then lunch, K.A.FORT 206473 RNZ Sigs (Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia)

The modern marina at Cairns suggests it has changed a bit since the Wahine docked there in 1951 with a cargo of troops bound for the Korean War.

RSA With a View: Alistair Kerr From page 6 already members, encourage them to join and be active participants. And don’t overlook those ‘locals’ who are currently serving in the Defence Force. Second, if it’s not already happening, have a close look at how you can change your club so that it is seen in the community as a place, not just for adults, but where parents can safely take their families for an enjoyable night out. As an example, I believe that if you institute and advertise amenities and activities for children, that will immediately send a message to parents that the RSA would be a great place to have some family time in pleasant surroundings. Of course, you need to ensure, as they have done at Howick, that the restaurant is of a high standard as it would be the main attraction. Look, too, at your club’s wider activities in terms of sports and entertainment. Is there something in that programme that could involve family interests? Is your club a safe place for families? Do your newsletters and publications reflect this policy in that their content is suitable for all readers? Given that most of our clubs operate a bar and a gaming area, is that suitably separated from area where children would congregate? With a bit of thought and planning, it can all be done. I make no apology for being a bit repetitive in this column, in terms of exhorting clubs to prepare for their survival. I am sure most are doing so anyway, but it is my earnest hope that every RSA club is, or soon will be, planning to achieve that goal.


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RSA REVIEW • SUMMER 2013

Binge and the Booze

binge drinking NZ tradition? Nobody denies that binge drinking is a problem in New Zealand. The debate continues as to what to do about it. But could the past provide some answers? Karen Phelps investigates. When the early pioneers reached our shores in the mid-19th century, they were literally taming a wild land. It was a male-dominated society where hard physical labour and heavy drinking were a normal part of life. Fast-forward to the gold-rush era, which drew untold numbers to New Zealand seeking hidden treasure. Once again, hard physical labour was necessary to find and extract gold from unforgiving ground. And at the end of a hard day’s work, a much deserved drink, sometimes spiralling into a heavy-drinking binge, was a welcome and common way to unwind. In the 21st century, we keep hearing about New Zealand’s binge-drinking culture. But is this something new, or is it merely the modern expression of decades of cultural habits courtesy of our forbears struggling to survive in a young country amidst gold rushes, wars, exploration, rudimentary services, minimal government and sparse law and order? It’s a possible reason for our binge-drinking culture that has not been explored, but Andrew Hearn, general manager policy, research and advice for the Health Promotion Agency, agrees it could make sense. Although no specific research has been undertaken that examines the relationship between our forbear and the current binge-drinking culture, he says New Zealand’s drinking habits do bear a striking resemblance to Anglo Saxon culture, where it’s not how much we drink, but the manner in which we drink that is important. “In Nordic-Anglo Saxon culture you don’t drink every day, but when you do, you go for it. We fit into that club quite well. In Mediterranean countries you tend to drink every day but less, although they are now tending towards binge drinking as well. “Certainly if you look internationally, there is a relationship between tough lifestyle (for example, fishing people, coal miners) and hard drinking. What the historical consumption figures show is that our predecessors (pre-World

DRINKING: THE FACTS WOMEN Women have higher blood alcohol levels after drinking the same amount of alcohol as men, so can get drunk faster. This is because women are usually smaller than men, and probably have less of the enzyme needed to break down alcohol in the liver. MEN Men are more likely to drink than women. Among drinkers men are more likely to drink daily or several times a week, drink heavily on a single occasion, and drink heavily more often. They are at higher risk of experiencing harm from their drinking and experience more deaths from alcohol-related causes. YOUNG PEOPLE As the brain is still developing up until the 20s, children and young adults are more vulnerable to negative impacts of alcohol on memory and learning. Young people have a lower tolerance to alcohol than older adults, and have an increased risk of injury and accidents related to alcohol use and increased risk of alcohol dependence. ELDERLY

The wild west: binge drinking habits may have had their origins in early pioneering and goldrush days, when hard physical labour, hard drinking and sparse law and order were a normal part of daily life.

Andrew Hearn... link between heavy drinking and a young country with a frontier mentality could make sense.

War I) drank quite a bit and drunkenness was more tolerated. “Levels of overall consumption are not high in New Zealand and are on a par with countries such as Australia, Canada, the United States and South Africa, interestingly all countries that are part of the British Commonwealth and have a tradition of settlement.” Hearn points out that the early tee-totalling

Maori were one of the only races on the planet that didn’t make alcohol and were intensely opposed to its introduction to their land (the Maori word for alcohol is ‘waipiro’, which translates as ‘stinking water’). Statistics today show that heavy drinking is largely a male problem – men make up nearly two-thirds of the statistics. One in five adult drinkers has a potentially hazardous drinking pattern. Drinking habits, says Hearn, are largely learned from role models, such as parents and peers. David Moger, chief executive of the RSA, believes that, although some RSAs experience problems associated with binge drinking from time to time, the association by and large provides a safe environment. “Generally the RSA environment is not a place you’d normally go to binge-drink. All RSAs have policies in place to watch out for people who have had too much to drink.

Although alcohol use often declines in older age, older people can be at risk of developing problem drinking, often triggered by significant life events such as loss of a loved one, loneliness, retirement, insomnia, illness or pain. As a result of aging, alcohol is not broken down by the body as efficiently. Alcohol interacts with many common prescription medicines. “I also think we have a positive impact on younger members because they are coming to a member-only environment. “We can show them how to drink responsibly in a real-life way. You don’t go on an RSA crawl the way you might go on a pub crawl. We are also not open late – most RSAs are closed by 11pm. “The reality with an organisation of our size is that there are some incidents [of binge drinking], but it is much more the exception than the rule.” Statistics in New Zealand around the amount of alcohol available indicates our drinking culture may be shifting. “In the last few years, we have seen a decline in alcohol consumption after a decade of rise,” says Hearn. “The question is, ‘How much of this is due to tough economic times or are people taking better care of their health?’ “ We think there are probably elements of both.”

RSA members talk about their experiences with alcohol – past and present The hard drinking tradition has become part of Kiwi culture and was fuelled by the experiences of heavy commitment to two world wars. Many ex-servicemen used drink to help them deal with the effects of war. Or did they? When I was working, on a Saturday afternoon I’d go down to the Takapuna RSA. We were all ex-navy and we’d only be there an hour and then we’d go home. My experience was that we’d have a few beers, but it was mainly to talk or for companionship. The actual binge drinking thing has gone out somewhat. The guys are getting too old to do that now – they can’t hack it in their 80s. I’ve never been in a culture where people were drinking for drinking’s sake. Even in Korea the guys would go and have a few beers, but there wasn’t a culture of heavy drinking. Yes some of them would get drunk, but not many. I think the concept that because you are in

the armed forces you drink heavily is wrong. As an illustration of the lack of drinking culture on the boat on the way back from Korea once, I was in charge of mess number five. We used to serve tots of rum at midday from a metal fanny (bucket). We had three or four blokes who were ‘rum scavengers’ and used to go around looking for the spare tots. One day it was so hot nobody wanted hot rum, so I tossed the whole bucket of rum out the window. It was mayhem, but what could the rum scavengers do? They could only abuse the hell out of me! Nowadays I think it’s different. People go out to get drunk. We never went out to get drunk. We were landing in international ports and we were more interested in seeing the world. – Jim Newman, aged 80, past president, New Zealand Korea Veterans Association and recipient of the Queen’s Service Medal, who served in Korea in 1951, 1952 and 1955.

When I was younger, like all young men, we used to have a fair whack at it on a Saturday night. But at that time we could only drink

up to six o’clock at night. If you drank on the street after that you could get arrested. I’m not going to say I didn’t get plastered ever, but I certainly didn’t do it every weekend. At the Mount Maunganui RSA we have a lot of young people aged in their 20s – they’re all pretty responsible because they are members of the RSA. I’m not going to say they might not play up later on [when they leave the RSA], but in the club they’re well behaved.” – Alex Pluck, aged 78, member of Mount Maunganui RSA

As a young person there were occasions when we drank too much. If you were with your mates, you drank more than if there were girls in the group. If you were going to a party, the lads would go and get fairly juiced up. But I think there’s a bigger problem with alcohol now. I look at the booze buses for example where the whole idea is to go with the expectation that you will be fairly gone [drunk]. Young people seem to start getting drunk at a younger age and alcohol is easier to get hold of. When I was young, basically we drank beer

and when we got into late teens/early 20s we got into bourbon. Today there are those alcoholic lolly waters. There’s also the problem with preloading. Back in the our day, if you didn’t get to a party by eight o’clock you were late, and they ended by midnight or one in the morning. There also seem to be more establishments/bars. I hope I’m not just saying these things because of age…but take the races. You see some of the lads and ladesses today getting dressed up to the nines and the sort of state [of drunkenness] they get into. I can’t remember this happening years ago. – B J Clark, aged 59, president, Papanui RSA My parents never drank, and I was busy nursing and we didn’t have time to drink. I nursed alcoholics for years at Hanmer Springs and I’ve seen what it does to them and how it destroys families. It’s a different culture altogether now. The younger ones can be a problem at times with binge drinking. I only really see heavy drinking in the homes of people we sometimes visit over Christmas. I don’t like it. – Jenny Pluck, aged 74, non-drinker, member of Mt Maunganui RSA.


Binge and the Booze

RSA REVIEW • SUMMER 2013

9

baby ‘boomerholics’ slip under radar Karen Phelps

The discussion around binge drinking usually centres on the youth. But are older people at risk of binge drinking as well? Andrew Hearn, general manager policy, research and advice for the Health Promotion Agency (HPA) says this is an age group that has slipped under the radar until now but that the HPA has identified the older age group to be at risk. He says that international research has indicated that baby boomers are not following in the footsteps of the past where as they age they tend to drink less. “One of the things we do know is that people introduced to alcohol young and have binging patterns in their youth might go underground a bit when they marry and have children. “But as they get older and these responsibilities drop away the problem of binge drinking can emerge again.” The 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health undertaken by the US Department of Health and Human Services found the rate of binge drinking (defined as five or more servings of alcohol in a sitting) among people ages 65 and older was 8.2%, and the rate of heavy drinking was 2%. The study found that 22% of men and 9% of women ages 50 to 64 reported a binge within the past month. For those older than 65 the figures were 14% of men and 3% of women. The rate of current illicit drug use had increased during the past decade among adults aged 50-64. Among baby boomers it was also found to be higher than those of older generations possibly because baby boomers, particularly those born after 1950, had much higher rates of illicit drug

HEALTH RISKS

The six o’clock swill: research indicates that baby boomers are binge drinking into their later years.

use as teenagers and young adults than people born in earlier years. The survey also noted that baby ‘boomerholics’ can put their health at significant risk by binge drinking, as older adults have increased sensitivity to alcohol as they take more medications, which can interact with

alcohol and may be more at risk from accidents, such as falls, when under the influence. “People binge drink right across gender, ethnic group and age,” says Hearn. “Because we have identified older people as being an area of concern for investigation we are doing research around this right now.”

Heavy drinking has for some time been linked to increased health problems such as liver disease. Heavy drinking has also been shown to make health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, significantly more deadly. And heavy drinking can cause strokes and dementia. More recently, however, a controversial topic has been the link between heavy drinking and cancer. According to the Health Promotion Agency, alcohol is now recognised as a carcinogen and is known to increase the risk of several types of cancer – including mouth, throat and voicebox, oesophagus, large bowel and rectum, breast (in women) and liver. The HPA bases its conclusion on assessments from the World Health Organisation International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monograph Working Group, Closer to home, a new assessment of the burden of ill health resulting from alcohol consumption in New Zealand (commissioned by the Alcohol Advisory Council and published in July 2013) shows that alcohol is responsible for more than one in 20 deaths of New Zealanders aged under 80. Around 800 deaths a year in New Zealand are attributed to alcohol, with the majority of these caused by injury or car accidents. But the report, entitled Alcohol-attributable burden of disease and injury in New Zealand: 2004 and 2007’ also shows that more than 30% of alcohol-attributable deaths were caused by cancers, including breast and bowel cancer. • Go to www.hpa.org for online calculators and questionnaires to determine your personal health risk.


NEW CAPTIONING AND AUDIO DESCRIPTION FACILITY LAUNCHED In November 2013, Able, NZ’s new captioning and audio description facility was launched by the Minister of Broadcasting, Craig Foss. Able provides New Zealand’s captioning and audio description services for television and is fully funded by NZ On Air. Captions are transcriptions of the programme audio, including dialogue and sound effects, and provide access to TV for Deaf and hearing impaired viewers, plus those learning English or viewing TV in a noisy environments. Audio description is an audio narrative for blind and vision impaired viewers that describes the on-screen action in the gaps between programme audio. Able captions 100% of prime-time programming across TV ONE and TV2, plus a selection on TV3 and Four, providing over 250 hours of captioned programming per week. Able also produces over 20 hours of audio-described programmes across TV ONE and TV2. A commercial captioning service is also available for television and other media, providing a link between advertisers, products and the community. Able, formerly known as TVNZ Access Services, started as a captioning service established with funding raised by the 1981 Telethon. The team has grown from several captioners to a 25-strong team of

captioners and audio describers. The team are passionate about what they do and all share a love for words and television. The service has recently relocated from the TVNZ building to Symonds St in Auckland and is now a separate entity, providing the same high-quality captioning and AD service external to TVNZ and under the governance of the Media Access Charitable Trust. Captions are available through Freeview, SKY, TiVo and IGLOO on various channels, including TV ONE, TV2, TV3 and Four. Audio description is available via Freeview on selected programming on TV ONE and TV2. If you have Freeview, TiVo or IGLOO, you can generally access captions by pushing the subtitle button on your remote. For SKY, you need to press the set-up button. For access instructions for your specific TV set-up or for more information, see www.able.co.nz or give the team a call. You can also contact Able via Facebook and Twitter.

Able CEO Wendy Youens, Broadcasting Minister Craig Foss and Media Access Charitable Trust trustee Lewis Grant toast the successful launch of Able.

Broadcasting Minister Craig Foss learns how to caption TV2’s Tiki Tour with Able Team Leader Stephanie Turner.


News 11

RSA REVIEW • summer 2013

NORTHLAND MAN FIRST TO RECEIVE BADGE Denise Piper, Whangarei Leader

Alan Ward, from Maunu, in Northland, is the first person to be recognised by the Whangarei RSA under the new returned (civilian) membership. The new badge has been created for civilians who serve in war-torn areas. The membership recognises non-military people who have worked in operational areas, including those who have been awarded the New Zealand Operational Service Medal or the New Zealand General Service Medal. Whangarei RSA president D’Arcy Bailey says the new criteria was approved by delegates to the RNZRSA’s National Council meeting in October. He believes it’s a good way to recognise nonmilitary people who deliver help and aid in war-torn areas. “Some of these civilians have seen more action than some of our service people.” Ward worked with the Red Cross from 1995 to 2002 as a relief administrator in Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and northern Sudan, helping deliver food, clothing and health programmes for vulnerable people. He was also an air operations manager in southern Sudan and Afghanistan, recovering war wounded from airstrips and supporting field operations. “I was working in support of the well-being of those affected by armed conflict,” he says. The former pilot began working in humanitarian aid after losing his job because he could no longer pass the medical test. He says the Red Cross work required a high level of physical fitness and he is now retired. His family has a long history of service in

Alan Ward (centre) has been recognised as a returned civilian at Whangarei RSA with support from secretary/ manager Colleen Towgood (left) and president D’Arcy Bailey.

war-torn areas. Both his grandfathers served in World War I and his grandfather’s brother was killed at Passchendaele after serving in Gallipoli. Alan Ward’s father and uncle both served in Europe during World War 2 (the uncle was killed in the air force). His brother-in-law was in the New Zealand Navy, and another brother-in-law and his son-in-law are in the Territorials.

Alan Ward, who received the New Zealand Operational Service Medal and New Zealand General Service Medal in 2009, says the medals and membership status is a great way to recognise non-military aid workers. “I think it’s appropriate that many of the people I’ve worked with have received some recognition. They go into a lot of areas that are quite difficult,

and when they come back, they’ve got to get their mind back to living in New Zealand – then they go away and do another mission.” He has been an associate member of Whangarei RSA for a number of years, and thinks the new membership will encourage more people to get involved.

Seven Korean War veterans from the Wellington and Hawke’s Bay region have been awarded Ambassadors for Peace medals by the South Korean government. The Korean deputy ambassador, Shim Jae Hyun presented the medals to the veterans at a function at the Masterton Services & Citizens’ Club. “It is a great honour and pleasure to express the everlasting gratitude of the Republic of Korea

and our people for the service you and your countrymen have performed in restoring and preserving our freedom and democracy,” says the official proclamation,” signed by Korea’s patriots and veterans’ affairs minister, Sung Choon. About 4700 New Zealand personnel service in Kayforce and a further 1300 on Royal New Zealand Navy frigates.

Korea honours Kiwi veterans

Photo left: The Wellington seven – (from left), Des Vinten (New Zealand Korean Veterans’ Association Wellington branch president), Leslie Clarke, Colin Houghton, Owen Akuira, Doug Rofe, Fred Johnston and Ray Henderson – line up with Shim Jae Huyn (far right) the Korean deputy ambassador, who presented the awards.

Surprise 100th birthday visit for stalwart What do you give a World War 2 vet for his 100th birthday? How about a surprise visit from his local MP and the veterans’ affairs minister? That’s how it happened for Alexandra RSA stalwart Peter Wildey when he turned 100 on October 9. Veterans’ affairs minister Michael Woodhouse and Waikati electorate MP Jacqui Dean turned up to present him with a card and thank him for his military contribution to his country during one of its darkest periods. Peter Wildey, an engineer, was mentioned in dispatches for distinguished service during the Greek Campaign where, as a 2nd lieutenant, he rebuilt and demolished bridges and roads while under attack by dive bombers. He finished the war as a temporary major. His citation, published in the April 6, 1944 London Gazette, read: “On the afternoon and evening of April 24, notwithstanding the exceedingly severe aerial attacks, he calmly led his section and repaired and maintained in good

Peter Wildey shares a joke with Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean and veteran affairs minister Michael Woodhouse.

order the road immediately south-east of Molos, thus allowing 6 Brigade and the Rearguard to withdraw without delay or hindrance. Later, during the night of April 24-25, he moved in rear of the Rearguard and fired road demolitions. When he had blown the road just north of Ag Constantina, he remained sometime after the withdrawal of the Rearguard to lay anti-tank mines and set booby traps. Lt Wildey displayed courage and devotion to duty and was an inspiration to all.” The two politicians also visited the Alexandra RSA and shared an informal afternoon tea with members, including retiring RNZRSA Otago and Southland district president John Longman.


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RSA REVIEW • SUMMER 2013

Lost Trails Battalion), who died and was buried in France 1916, and Pte 20798 Phillip Tui Andrews (NZ Expeditionary Force 1916). Suggestions on where to find photos also welcome. Contact: Joe Andrews – jatandrews@bigpond.com

Family of Flt Sgt J.L.S.Bush – who is buried in a cemetery at a small church on St. Mary’s, the largest of the Isles of Scilly islands, about 50 kilometres off the south-west coast of England – might like to contact Maurice Clarke. He visited the cemetery (former English prime minister Harold Wilson retired to the island and is buried there) while on holiday and found a row of well-caredfor headstones commemorating World War 2 One of these was dedicated to Flt Sgt J.L.S. Bush, of the New Zealand Air Force. Maurice Clarke says the Bush family might be glad to think that Flt Sgt Bush’s grave is in a lovely place, and the church and cemetery are well looked after. He says the cemetery has a great sense of peace and tranquillity, and a special atmosphere. The wording on the gravestone is: 404680 FLIGHT SERGEANT J.L.S. BUSH, WIRELESS OPERATOR/ AIR GUNNER, ROYAL N.Z. AIRFORCE, 12TH SEPTEMBER 1942 AGE 28. Contact: Maurice Clarke - fmclarke@paradise.net.nz Looking for photographs of Maori Pioneer Battalion & Expeditionary Force members Pte William Wilson Andrews (NZ Maori Pioneer

As part of a display to commemorate 100 years since the start of World War 1, Prebbleton Heritage is seeking the names of local servicemen and women who served overseas. So far we have found 79 with Prebbleton (on the southern outskirts of Christchurch) connections, all of them in the army. We would love to hear if anyone knows of grandfathers, great-uncles etc who lived in Prebbleton and served during this conflict. We have not been able to find any names associated with the air force or navy. One of the boys, M.Mooney, was farewelled in the Prebbleton Hall, but we can find no record of any war service. We are also searching for information about Joseph Nicholas. The display in the Prebbleton Public Hall will be open to the public on Anzac Day 2014 and for the two following days (Saturday and Sunday). We would be grateful to anyone who can help in any way. Contact: Daphne McAven - 36 Prebblewood Drive, Prebbleton 7604; 03 3498886; mcavend@ ihug.co.nz.

Information sought about this crew, with particular reference to the man kneeling second from right. It should be the crew of a Lt Burke. Contact: ottavio.arzano@libero.it. Looking for information and research contacts concerning lost World War 2 aircrew? Kelvin Youngs is happy to assist RSA members. Contact: Aircrew Remembered – kelvinyoungs@mac. com; www.aircrewremembered.com. Information sought about Edward Harold Craigie Graham, who died in Oamaru 35 years ago. He is pictured (left) in Fleet Air Arm uniform. Contact: Janice Moulder – redluom@ slingshot. co.nz.

This World War 1 Victory Medal engraved around the sides with the name of 117731 Pnr J Davies R.E has come to light recently. Family, or anyone who knows or knows of the family, sought so that the medal can be returned. Contact: Bob: psmurf.interdoms@xtra.co.nz.

Book swap wanted. In Action With The SAS, by David Horner (2009)an updated edition of Horner’s SAS – Phantoms of the Jungle (published in 1989), with chapters on Somalia and East Timor. F.L.Hanlon would like to do a straight swap of his copy of the new book for the earlier Phantoms edition. He needs the earlier edition, which is now out of print, for research purposes. Contact: F.L.Hanlon – 1/71 South Road, Kaitaia 0410; 09 4083369. Former personnel of direction finding (D/F) stations that operated in New Zealand during 1944-45, please contact: David Little, 1 Baxter Place, Stoke, Nelson. Can anyone throw any light on a 7.62cm x 2cm brass-bullet cigarette lighter that has come to light amongst Fowke family heirlooms? It bears the name of I.Fowke 88690. Contact: Graeme Fowke – 09 4281102.

Commemorative frame of World War 1 soldier back on familiar ground at Hakaru A World War I soldier with strong ties to the district has found a home on the commemorative wall at the Hakaru RSA, in Northland. The family of William Henry Williams arrived in Hakaru, Northland in 1895, and bought a farm across the road and slightly to the right of today’s Hakuru RSA. William was born in Hakaru in 1896, where he attended school. After leaving school he worked for William Leslie, of Kaiwaka, until he left for World War I. The farm was sold in late 1916 or early 1917 and the family returned to Auckland, now with four children, three of them born in Hakaru. Before the war William had joined the North Auckland Mounted Rifles. He enlisted for World War 1 service on December 15, 1915. Carrying his first known rank, private/rifleman, he embarked on April 1, 1916 destined for Egypt. After arriving in Suez on May 2, he was soon

Not Forgotten: Hakaru RSA vice-president Neville Andrew (left) with the commemorative frame of Pte William Henry Williams, 23/2304, presented by grand-nephew Bill Williams

transferred to the New Zealand 2nd Battalion Auckland Infantry Regiment, which was fighting

in Belgium; he arrived on the battlefield on August 9. The first major battle he took part in would have been the Battle of Flers Courcelette in December 1916. The Auckland Infantry Regiment, of which he was now a member, played a huge role. His next major sortee was the Battle of Messines in June 1917, which proved to be his last. The New Zealand forces took the town of Messines from the Germans, then helped to take the ridge that overlooked the town. The Germans regrouped on June 8 and heavily bombarded the New Zealand trenches. Williams would have been one of the hundreds of New Zealand soldiers reported killed that day as they withstood and refused to yield to the German attack. He was buried at a British supply depot called Stinking Farm, not far from where the Battle of Messines took place – grave number 148. However, the next day his body was exhumed

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and reburied at the Wulverghem War Cemetery in Belgium, just 2.5 miles from where he died. The address of his final grave has been recorded in his informa­tion section. His eldest brother, Albert Pritchard Williams, also fought in World War I and was badly wounded in France in 1917, just a few months after William was killed. Albert’s eldest son, Albert Henry Williams, was killed in action in Tunisia in 1943. “Our family has sadly lost men overseas at war and we still grieve today, just like many other families do,” says Aucklander Bill Williams, who provided this information on the life and service of his great-uncle, William Williams. Bill Williams also pays tribute to Mangawhai man Bill Leslie, who located a photo of Williams and additional information through his own grandfather’s archives.

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13

RSA REVIEW • summer 2013

Remembering

Recognition comes Frivolity-girl photo a mystery to the ‘berry boys’ Dion Crooks The World War 1 ‘Berry Boys’ have brought a new and challenging dimension to Michael Crawford’s role as curator of history at the Te Papa museum. He and his fellow curators are working to identify close to 200 World War 1 soldiers who have appeared in photos that lay lost and forgotten in a Wellington studio for 80 years. The photos were taken during the war at the Berry & Co studio in Cuba St, Wellington. When the studio was sold, the glass negatives were left behind, forgotten. Until they were discovered in 1998 by renovators, who recognised the historical significance of photographs that had been hidden away in the attic for 80 years or so. The 3800 photos are now stored in Te Papa’s cool room so that they can be preserved. The pending World War 1 centenary commemorations prompted Te Papa to embark on the ID project. The target is to identify all of the men in time for the commemorations in 2014. Crawford says they have “recognised” about two-thirds of the men. Such as the Faulkner family (soldier, wife and sons) – a Nelson man, who knew the family, had an original photo and identified them all. And Parks, an artillery gunner – another Nelson man made a positive ID and supplied some family details. And James Bury (British Army) – he had sent a photo to his sister in New Zealand, and she had taken it to Berrys to be copied. Hallam, another in a British Army uniform, was a similar story – his widow lived in Kilbirnie, Wellington. Some photos have a last name etched on the negative, but none had the soldier’s full name. Crawford says much of the detective work has revolved around “reading” uniforms, badges and insignia. Each reinforcement had its own badge, which offers a good clue to the soldier’s identity.

Kathleen Veronica O’Brien (1890-1973) – who was photographed as a Royal New Zealand Artillery gunner – was the daughter of Irish immigrants who settled in Hawke’s Bay. She was one of five children, two girls and three boys. Her niece has made the identification from an “If you can pinpoint these, you have a fair original, sepia-tone print in her possession. The print is inscribed on the back with ‘Kathleen in chance of service records,” he says. Many of the photos were given to relatives and a revue’, which confirms Te Papa’s suspicions – loved ones, and became a record of a poignant based on the dance shoes and rosette – that she moment, and in some cases, a heartbreaking was dressed up for some sort of performance. Kathleen was a theatrical type. She was a reminder of a soldier killed. The fact there are still people (children, grandchildren, relatives, member of the Napier Frivolity Minstrels, a family friends) around who remember these musical society established in 1897 with the object of “raising money by public entertainments for people has been a big plus for researchers. Public feedback and Papers Past (which charitable purposes”. During World War 1, ‘The Frivs’ sought to has “changed historical research”) have been do their bit. As early as September 1914, they invaluable as well. presented a patriotic B e rry & Co took concert in aid of the on the task of photoLondon-based Belgian graphing New Zealand Relief Fund to assist Expeditionary Force “Belgians in distress”. men before they left (By early 1915, New to fight in “the war in Zealanders had conEurope”. Some were tributed more than photographed alone, £37,000 to the fund). others with friends or It was thanks to the war the families they were that the previously allabout to leave behind. male troupe allowed The researchers have women in. also done the legwork... During the early retracing the soldiers’ steps up and down the The two Berry Girls. Kathleen O’Brien is on the right. stages of the war, same stairs the soldiers The photo (left) has the name, Johnson, inscribed on theatre groups often created tableaus with would have walked up the back. The woman is dressed as a New Zealand Rifle Brigade regimental sergeant-major . performers dressed as almost 100 years ago. They have been in the room they think was the soldiers and nurses. As the war dragged on, studio where the soldiers had their photographs however, such fund-raising events began to taken. It has especially large windows, south come under fire as unease mounted around having fun while others were fighting. facing, to capture the best light. In July 1915 the Otago Daily Times reported The photos are on the museum’s website, and the public has been invited to help with informa- on a speech by Rev R.E.Davies at the close of tion – names, stories, snippets of information; a carnival queen event. While congratulating anything about the soldiers’ lives before, during, the organisers, he acknowledged the growing and after the war; what happened to them; how controversy around the “carnival movement’; their lives and those of their descendants were while the carnival raised money for a good cause, the Wounded Soldiers’ Fund, “in this affected by the war.

critical situation of the Empire he felt it his duty to say that no man should take part in the carnival whose duty it was to stand in the ranks of our defenders”. One of Kathleen O’Brien’s fellow Frivolity members, Harry Evetts, agreed with Davies. In April 1916, the New Zealand Freelance reported that he had “given over Frivolity for war”. He traded his membership in The Frivs for a position as a driver in the ‘Twelfths” – “No more frivolity,” he says, “till Kaiser Bill is knocked out.” The sequence number on the glass plate suggests the image was taken between August and December 1914, well before any unease had set in. So, why was Kathleen O’Brien, who lived in Napier, photographed in costume in a Wellington studio? Apparently, the Napier Frivolity Minstrels travelled the country with their shows. However, the group’s records were destroyed in the Hawke’s Bay earthquake and fires of 1931, so we don’t know if Kathleen was part of this. Alternatively, she did visit the capital fairly regularly to see her sister, Mary, and may have taken part in a Wellington event. Like many New Zealand women, Kathleen had a personal association with the war. Her brother, Michael, enlisted and embarked from Wellington on August 14, 1915 as part of the Wellington Mounted Rifles. He was a quartermaster sergeant. Her younger brother, Francis, also joined up that year; he was a sapper. Both returned home. Kathleen, who didn’t marry until she was in her 60s, died in Masterton in April 1973. • To find out about and get information on the Berry Boys project: sites.tepapa.govt.nz/ berryboys/about. • To pass on information about the Berry Boys (or Girls): email berryboys@tepapa.govt.nz; ph 04 3817129; write Berry Boys Project Team, Te Papa, P.O.Box 467, Wellington 6140. • Note: To aid identification, include the Te Papa registration number (for example, B.044366) for the photo in question.

GERMAN’S ANZAC HUMANITY REwarded BY QSM AWARD Hans-Heinrich Meyer – a German businessman who has cared for the graves of New Zealand airmen in a German cemetery, made and maintained contact with their families, and organised Anzac Day services on the site – has been awarded a Queen’s Service Medal. The nomination was put forward by the New Zealand families, and he received the award at a special investiture at the New Zealand Embassy in Berlin on September 13. He was overwhelmed by the ceremony, which was witnessed by members of his family and embassy staff. The nominators felt that the voluntary contribution and valuable work Meyer and his German colleagues do in maintaining and fostering German /New Zealand relationships should be recognised. He is also well regarded by his contemporaries in the Reserve Corps and by British Army units in Oerbke Camp, who assist him. Thirty-eight RNZAF personnel are buried at Becklingen Cemetery, a Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in northern Germany. Many of these men were crews of Wellington bombers of 75 (NZ) Squadron, Bomber Command who were involved in raids on Hamburg during World War 2. They were shot down in various locations close to their target and buried near the crash

Hans-Heinrish Meyer QSM (left) is congratulated by the New Zealand ambassador to Germany, Peter Rider.

sites; the remains were re-interred at Becklingen. The casualties in this theatre of war occurred between 24 September 1940 and 22 April 1945. On the night of 29 July 1942 alone there were 16 casualties. Hans-Heinrich Meyer, who is chairman of the Reserve Company in the Fallingbostel-Walsrode area, lives in Dorfmark, a small village 60 kilometres north of Hannover and 23km from Becklingen. Since 2007, he has contacted the families of these airmen and established continuing relationships with them. It began when he visited Italy to attend the 60th anniversary of the battle of Monte Casino in 2004. He met a group of New Zealand veterans,

interacted with them at the ceremonies, and was invited to visit New Zealand. He did so in 2006. He has since made contact with 10 of the families of the airmen, keeps them up to date with news, and has hosted a number of them who have visit Becklingen. Since 2008 he has conducted annual Anzac Day services at the grave sites in Becklingen, and has arranged a community chaplin, Rev Peter Henneghan, from Station Fallingbostel, and 2 Close Support Battalion REME representatives from the camp to attend, along with members of his Reserve Company unit and representatives of the Royal British Legion. He has provided a New Zealand ensign and

a silver fern flag from his own resources, along with music and bugle calls to accompany the service. These commemorations are recorded digitally and copies e-mailed to families. In 2012 the RNZRSA provided him with a supply of traditional poppies and a DVD containing various versions of the New Zealand National Anthem, bugle calls and suggestions for an order of service. Each Christmas he places a red candle in the snow at each of the New Zealand graves. A New Zealand Embassy Berlin representative attended the 2012 and 2013 Becklingen services, and Meyer and his wife, Magdalene, were invited to attend the official Anzac Day Services the embassy conducts in Berlin. His efforts have encouraged and inspired others to expand on his work. For example, he has enlisted the aid of a local mayor, who was able to locate two 80-year-olds who, as boys, witnessed the crash of one aircraft and identified the exact location of the crash-site. In August 2012 Lt Col Brian Coomber (rtd) and his wife met these two men in a cornfield where Plt Off Murray Carncross (a member of the Coomber family) lost his life on July 29, 1942. A New Zealand flag was flown and a small ceremony was held. In another instance, a reservist colleague of Meyer has done extensive research into the missions and crews of those planes that were brought down.


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ALDRIDGE AG 439820 WWII, RNZAF 09/09/2013 Invercargill ALLEN JHW 290721 WWII, 3RD DIV 05/09/2013 Tauranga ALLEN NH 392117 WWII, RNZAF 04/11/2013 Howick AMON JR 818002 WWII, NZ Army 12/10/2013 Manly ANDERSON N 633837 WWII, 6th Engs 19/09/2013 Kaitaia ANDREW EJ 308725 NZ Army 12/09/2013 Stanmore Bay ANDREWS IG 240878 WWII, NZ Army 24/10/2013 Wellington ANDREWS LG 14884 RNZN 17/10/2013 Te Atatu South ASHBY M T49624 13/10/2013 Whakatane B

BAILLIE R 290652 WWII, Scottish Regt 10/10/2013 Brightwater, Nelson BALME ML 619828, NZ45603 Home Sevice, NZ Army & RNZAF 18/10/2013 Katikati BARKER RT 2206713 RAF 04/09/2013 Tauranga BARTLETT BJ 400719 NZ Army 14/10/2013 Morrinsville BASTION R 629583 WWII, NZ Army, RNZAF Pilot 20/10/2013 Auckland BAXENDALE L 802850 CMT, 1 NMWC Regt 28/10/2013 Richmond, Nelson BAYLEY J 1103370 RAF 21/11/2013 Blenheim BECKETT W 07/10/2013 Takapuna BERRY H Q74787 RNZAF 28/09/2013 Hamilton BINMORE KF D/JX 708618 WWII, RN 15/09/2013 Hastings BLICK D NZ33232 WWII, RNZAF 24/06/2013 Te Awamutu BOOTH IM WWII, RN 23/09/2013 Howick BOWEY CW 1273518 WWII, RAF 18/10/2013 Geraldine BRADSHAW GJ NZD2969 WWII, RNZN 15/10/2013 Howick BRAHAM R 19042290 Korea, Japan, RAC 13/10/2013 Ashburton BRIGGS D 37807 Malaya, 1Bn NZRegt 22/10/2013 Wanganui BRIGHT L 405585 WWII, 209 Light AA Bty 09/11/2013 Waiuku BRIGHT SA 437386 WWII, 32Fd Regt, 46Bty 06/02/2013 Wellington BROWN DH 207780 KForce, 16Fd Regt 05/10/2013 Dunedin BRUCE AS 639403 WWII, 16 Reinf 08/10/2013 Geraldine BURGESS MD 815332 WWII, RNZAF 03/10/2013 Wellington BURTON JH 1920234 Malaya, RAF 01/11/2013 Blenheim C

CALDER G 814823 RNZAF 14/10/2013 Christchurch CAMPBELL LJ 17481 RNZN 19/09/2013 Alexandra CASSIDY RL 133835 21/10/2013 Mt Maunganui CATO VN 5756 WWII, RNZNVR 09/09/2013 Remuera, Auckland CHARLES AT 468773 WWII, NZ Army 24/10/2013 Wellington CHESTNUT RH 427487 WWII 03/10/2013 Mt Maunganui CHITTENDEN S 642713 JForce 07/11/2013 Napier CHITTOCK BJF 43235 WWII, RNZAF 13/10/2013 Timaru CHRISTIE RE 4311292 WWII, RNZAF 24/09/2013 Christchurch COCHRANE D 71587 WWII, Arty 54 Ant Tank 18/11/2013 Whangarei COLLYNS DJ 140223 WWII 02/12/2012 Paraparaumu CONNOLLY JP 624066 WWII, 15 Reinf 31/08/2013 Hamilton East COOPER WC A580612 Borneo & Vietnam 26/09/2013 Otaki COPE F POX106064 WWII, RN 07/10/2013 Tauranga

COPELAND R 446677 WWII, NZ Army 05/10/2013 Te Awamutu CRAW RK 421684 WWII, RNZAF 30/10/2013 Christchurch CROALL C NZ41627 WWII, RNZAF 18/10/2013 Thames CROSBY AB W4186926 RAF 19/11/2013 Red Beach D

DAKEN A 677021 23/09/2013 Waihi DAVIE G 814338 NZ Army 26/10/2013 Christchurch DAWES JM R726353 MN, RN 06/08/2013 Ngatea DE DULIN H FX78186 WWII, Fleet Air Arm 06/11/2013 Christchurch DE LAUTOUR RF 441587 WWII, 1Bn Wgtn Regt, Div Ammo C 08/10/2013 Dunedin DEANE KEC 73998 RNZAF 28/09/2013 Blenheim DICKEL CJ 25666 RNZN 28/10/2013 Dunedin DURRANT B 461689/828008 RNZAF, NZ Army, JForce 06/08/2013 Whangamata DWYER B 888005 CMT 02/10/2013 Ashburton E

EASTERBROOK C 810997 16RF Bn, JForce, NZ Army 04/10/2013 Thames EDWARDS FJ 407526 JForce, DIV CAV Regt 20/10/2013 Hamilton ELLMERS J 128036 25Bn 06/08/2013 Waipukurau ERSON AS 8925 WWII, RNZNVR 21/10/2013 Wanganui F

FAHEY LA 447497 & 4311048 WWII, NZ Army, RNZAF 21/10/2013 Christchurch FIELDING J 68949 WWII, NZ Army 27/10/2013 Christchurch FLETCHER HGS D/JX 10254.NZ 13108 WWII, Palestine, Korea, RN, RNZN 06/08/2013 Timaru FLINT M 815151 RNZEME 12/10/2013 Christchurch FOSTER HF 488680 WWII, 2NZEF 22/09/2013 Waikanae FRENCH JS NZ439440 WWII, RNZAF 25/10/2013 Hastings G

GARRITY DF 36988 WWII 04/07/2013 Otaki GIBSON KE 208036 Korea, 16Fd NZA 28/10/2013 Timaru GORINSKI FR 435470 5Fd Regt, 2NZEF 23/10/2013 Dunedin GOULD RD 257410 5Fd Regt, 2NZEF 14/06/2013 Timaru GOULIN LS 71636 22/10/2013 Ngaruawahia GRACE S 46741 08/09/2013 Whakatane GREENVILLE B 465764 CMT, NZ Army 02/09/2013 Morrinsville H

HAMBLIN NG 810817 WWII, NZ Army 16/08/2013 Takapuna, Auckland HARDIMAN JW Territorial Forces 23/11/2013 Upper Hutt HART AD NZ424981 WWII, RNZAF 57Sqn 24/09/2013 Katikati HARTWELL DG 649784 WWII, 18/11/2013 Mt Maunganui HATCHER K 593013 Malaya, Infantry 26/10/2013 Katikati HAYWARD W NZ415786 16/10/2013 Ohope HEAVEY K 439613 NZ Army 28/07/2013 Palmerston North HEDDELL DL 425841 WWII, RNZAF 16/02/13 Timaru HEINE SF 434768 Home Service 30/09/2013 Te Kuiti HIMING LC 426003 WWII, RNZAF 24/09/2013 Christchurch HOCKEN ME NZ427980 WWII, 210 & 517sqn 07/11/2013 New Plymouth HODGE RC 44440 WWII, 19 & 22Bn 22/09/2013 Wanganui HOYES JM 456878 WWII, JForce 03/08/2013 Te Awamutu

HUGGETT AS WO544111 WWII, RAF 17/10/2013 Pinehill HUNT TC 625105 04/11/2013 Mt Maunganu J

JOHNSTON AWP 50536 WWII, 14 LAA Regt 20/11/2013 Gore JOHNSTONE GRD 814980 WWII, NZ Army 28/10/2013 Stanmore Bay JONES RF 461386 NZ Army 27/07/2013 Otaki JORDAN DI 16520 Malaysia, RNZN 18/11/2013 Oamaru JUDGE GE 437465 RNZAF 10/09/2013 Tauranga K

KEEGAN L 1620810 WWII, RAF 21/10/2013 Whangarei KELLY F 442707 04/09/2013 Opunake KILWORTH LR 22602 WWII, 2NZEF 01/09/2013 Hastings KING AJ 635682 JForce, 27Bn 16/10/2013 Timaru L

LAMBERT RT 4214024 WWII, RNZAR 06/10/2013 Hamilton LAMONT DJ 435982 WWII, 22Bn 29/09/2013 Gore LANGE KAW 659517 WWII, NZ Army, RNZE, JForce 17/11/2013 Christchurch LANGFORD BH 623221 CMT, HQ 4Armd Bd 25/09/2013 Richmond, Nelson LANGLANDS CC 433314 WWII, RNZAF 24/10/2013 Matamata LANGLEY WD 440365 WWII, NZMC 17/09/2013 Wellington LEPPER IR 592600 CMT 26/10/2013 LINDSAY J 81410 WWII, 19Div 05/11/2013 Christchurch LOVE WE 7864 WWII, RNZN 21/09/2013 Te Awamutu M

MACKEY AT 920078 Malaya, Infantry 25/05/2013 Timaru MANSON RF WWII 08/10/2013 Pt Chevalier, Auckland MARLOW RJ 820885 2NZEF WAAC 16/11/2013 Dunedin MARSHALL LE 71963 WWII, WAAC 2NZEF 26/11/2012 Waikanae MAY F 5265 WWII, 19Bn 17/07/13 New Plymouth MCCONE A 923551 Korea, 10th NZ Transport Div 08/10/2013 Mosgiel MCCORQUIN D 434779 02/10/2013 Whakatane MCGEE WJ 242001 WWII, ASC 12/10/2013 Oamaru MCKENZIE IB 269476 WWII, NZ Army 24/11/2013 Waipu MCLAUGHLIN W 1026158 WWII, RNZAF 11/08/2013 Howick MCLEISH EG 1474 NZ Police 06/11/2013 Orewa MCNEILLY B 17030 WWII, RNZN 02/11/2013 Ngongotaha MIDDLEMISS C 620892 WWII, 18 NZ Armed Regt 10/10/2013 Hamilton MIDDLETON DB 224768 WWII, NZ Army 25Bn 17/09/2013 Paraparaumu MIHAERE RS Malaya, NZ Army 11/10/2013 Nelson MILES MM 08/01/2013 Mt Roskill, Auckland MILLER G RN9960 WWII, RNZN 08/10/2013 Wellington MILNES SE 827260 Japan, JForce 05/11/2013 Whangarei MOORS LG NZ41489 WWII, RNZAF 25/11/2012 Auckland MORRISON (NEE GRANT) PE 819317 WWII, WAAC 18/11/2013 Nelson MORTON WJ 973 HMNZS, Gambia 28/09/2013 Oamaru MOYNIHAN MB 620994 WWII, 2NZEF 20/04/2013 Waikanae MUNDT RF 597372 09/09/2013 Opunake MUNRO J 15484 WWII, RNZN 18/09/2013 Te Awamutu MURPHY R 19004095 Brit Army Air Corp / Royal

Welch Fusiliers 16/08/2013 Otaki MURROW WB 459430 9762 NZ Army RNZN 09/09/2013 Palmerston North N

NEWLANDS JE 44432 WWII, RNZAF 04/10/2013 Christchurch NEWTON AJ NZ9478 WWII, RNZN 30/09/2013 Nelson NICHOLAS EG 458943 7Fd Eng Regt 27/06/2013 Dargaville NUTSFORD BJR 5853 Sigmn 2NZEF 28/10/2013 Dunedin O

O’BRIEN RJ 552122 NZ Army 31/10/2013 Christchurch ORMAN D 2811709 WWII, WRAF 08/07/2013 Te Awamutu ORMSBY E 462509 Malaya, 2 NZRegt / RNZIR 06/10/2013 Te Awamutu O’ROURKE JE 21053963 04/09/2013 Thames P

PARKINSON B 203810 Korea, NZ Gunner Arty 16/05/2013 Paeroa PARRY FS 453084 WWII, 20th Armoured Bn 09/11/2013 Nelson PATRICK JA 5718 WWII, NZ Army Pay Corp, 2NZEF 08/08/2013 Paraparaumu PAYNE ES 75960 RNZAF 28/09/2013 Hamilton PEACOCKE NJF NZ2077 02/11/2013 Mt Maunganui PETRIE RM 816174 CMT 29/10/2013 Rangiora PLATT R 1068853 WWII, RAF 08/08/2013 Paraparaumu POTAKA RW 621628 RNZIR 18/10/2013 Wanganui POTTER JR 413119 WWII, RNZAF 23/09/2013 Whangarei PRESTIDGE HG 620013 WWII, JForce, NZ Army 13/10/2013 Nelson PRICE AFV 13242 WWII, ASC 04/11/2013 Invercargill PURVIS DW 622523 NZ Army 30/11/2013 Wanganui R

RANGITONGA N 465302 CMT Territorial 13/09/2013 Wainuiomata RAPSON B 02/02/2010 Papatoetoe, Auckland RATIMA J 01/10/2013 Whakatane RAY FK 815558 NZ Army, JForce 18/11/2013 Christchurch RENZ R 0251 Police 27/09/2013 Waihi Beach RHIND DS 515141 CMT 21/07/2013 Waihi ROBERTSON DM 897000 CMT 15/10/2013 Rangiora ROE JP 22233226 Korea, British Army 28/09/2013 Takamatua ROSS IA 665610 WWII, NZ Army JForce 03/04/2009 Milford, Auckland ROWE VR 8410 WWII, RNZN 26/06/2013 Cambridge S

SACHTLER LJ 443828, 648294 WWII JForce, AIC RNZAF 31/10/2013 Dunedin SAMPSON DM 816324 19/11/2013 Christchurch SAMUELS WJ 19598 WWII, NZ Army 24/11/2013 Christchurch SARGENT (NEE LANE) J 39846 NZWRAC 01/12/2010 Waimate SHEEHAN DJ 454049 JForce, 2NZEF 09/11/2013 Rangiora SHINE EJ 7125 RNZN WWII, RNZN 06/05/2013 Paeroa SIM LC 50345 2NZEF, 26Bn 15/07/2013 Timaru SIMPSON JW 9716/632011 WWII 03/11/2013 Mt Maunganui SLEEMAN PMC 21064250 Occupation Forces, NZ Army 05/11/2013 Nelson SMEATH TR 203665 Korea, 16Fd Regt 21/10/2013 Thames SMITH CE 399063 WWII, NZ Army 22Bn 13/07/2013 Paraparaumu


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SMITH K 402923 WWII, 21Bn 03/10/2013 Te Awamutu SMITH SE 436003 WWII, RNZAF 08/09/2013 Invercargill SMITH-PILLING B 646124 NZ Army 04/04/2013 Whangaparaoa SOMERVILLE ME H244131 Pacific 30/09/2013 Katikati SPOONER C NZ 437439 WWII, RNZAF 27/05/2013 Paihia STACE F F826418 RNZAF 17/10/2013 Rangiora STEVEN J 231442 WWII, NZEF 23/11/2013 Napier STEVENSON A 20/10/2013 Christchurch STEVENSON AJ 74225 WWII, NZ Army 13/10/2013 Christchurch STRONG M 816494 WWII, WAAC 09/10/2013 Wanganui STURROCK WF X73851 RNZAF 02/10/2013 Hamilton SUCH G 23146971 REME, British Army 04/10/2013 Mosgiel SUKIAS S 7909686 WWII, NZ Army 02/10/2013 Howick SUTTON JF 14067 Korea, RNZN 16/11/2013 Nelson T

TAPPER DJM 207925 Korea, 16Fd Regt 06/09/2013 Invercargill TAYLOR LA 461362 CMT 14/10/2013 Tauranga TAYLOR MJ 76892 01/11/2013 Auckland TAYLOR PJ L18433 RNZN 01/09/2013 Waipawa THOMPSON CW 783513 CMT, NZ Army 21/09/2013 Nelson TOLERTON NF WWII, RNZNVR 21/08/2013 Te Rapa, Hamilton TREMAIN KAJ Z10639 Borneo, NZ Army 01/10/2013 Hastings

TURNBULL P 446234 WWII 07/10/2013 Christchurch TYRER HJM 902279 Royal Artillery 30/08/2013 U

UMBERS D 469979 RNZAF 22/10/2013 Kerikeri UNWIN RR 4312033 WWII, RNZAF 12/10/2013 Christchurch UPJOHN PG 819465 Korea 31/10/2013 Tauranga V

VANSTONE R 456256 WWII, NZ Army 06/11/2013 Blenheim W

WALKER IA 284146 2NZEF 16/11/2013 Dunedin WEBSTER DRE 441538 WWII, RNZAF 16/10/2013 Timaru WHEELER AR 449866 Home Service, 2 Otago Regt 18/11/2013 Mosgiel WHITE KM 72036 WWII, NZ Army 2NZEF 07/08/2013 Remuera, Auckland WILKINSON DI 38533 WWII, 2NZEF 27/08/2013 Otaki WILLIAMS L W824961 RNZ MED CORPS 22/09/2013 Wanganui WILSON F 7589 WWII, RNZN 25/10/2013 Whangarei WOOD EH 909526 WWII, RAF 26/11/2013 Amberley WOOD WS 133098 WWII, NZ Army 11/12/2012 Remuera, Auckland WOODWARD FL 4210881 WWII 27/10/2013 Mt Maunganui WRAY EV 12745 WWII, RN & RNZN 19/11/2013 Whangarei WRIGHT PA NZ80121 SE Asia, RNZAF 01/09/2013 Hastings

Aaron out to clear Afghanistan air Peter Owens Aaron Horrell wants to clear up some misconceptions about Afghanistan – and he’s going to the RSA and community groups to do so. Since returning to New Zealand from his Afghanistan tour of duty in 2012, the Riversdale, Southland man has spoken to a number of groups in various communities. The most recent was his presentation of An Afghanistan Experience – a mix of speaking, video footage and photographs – at the Gore & District RSA. It was a sell-out, and presented 138 people with a new perspective on one of the world’s oldest countries that has been engaged in some sort of combat for many centuries. Ten New Zealand soldiers have been killed in the 10 years New Zealand Defence Forces have been serving in Afghanistan – five of them while Horrell was there last year with 2/1 Bn RNZIR. He had been in Afghanistan previously and also in East Timor It is the highest number of fatalities New Zealand forces have sustained since the Vietnam War in the 1960s and early 1970s. He and the Gore RSA agreed that $5 of the $25 entrance fee for The Afghanistan Experience would go to The New Zealand Fallen Heroes’ Trust – an organisation formed by a group of people with strong ties to the New Zealand Defence Force. They saw a need for practical support to the

DVD aims at closer ties between `new veterans’ Aaron Horrell, a Kiwi veteran from Afghanistan, is working on a DVD covering the Kiwis in Afghanistan. The DVD also contains a bid to foster closer ties between the “new veterans” and the RSA. Several interviews tell both sides of the story. The DVD will be released next year and it is hoped to make it available to RSAs and district presidents, who could show it at district meetings. families of those wounded or killed while serving their country. Chairman Baden Ewart says the trust, “loosely modelled on similar international initiatives, aims to fund projects that make a real difference to the lives of our heroes and their families”. Four trustees have been confirmed: Ewart (a colonel in Royal New Zealand Infantry), Neville Reilly (a retired brigadier), Leith Comer (a retired lieutenant colonel), and Rob Munro (a retired lieutenant colonel). Horrell sees being a soldier, sailor or airman in the New Zealand Defence Force is more than just a job: “It’s a commitment to do as lawfully ordered by an elected government while serving the wider well-being of our country and all of its citizens.”

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16 Remembering

RSA REVIEW • summer 2013

PEELING BACK LAYERS OF LEMON SQUEE Maj (later Brig) Herbert Hart is reported to have claimed to having originated the lemon squeezer shape out of the regulation slouch hat in August 1914, when he, Lt Col William Malone and Lt James Naylor formalised their policy that a lemon-squeezer shape should be the head-dress of the Wellington (Taranaki) and Ruahine regiments of the Main Body, NZEF. This agreement was reached in the commercial rooms of the Club Hotel in Palmerston North on the eve of the regiments’ embarkation to World War 1. However, Malone had reshaped the regulation slouch hat to a lemon squeezer for his men as one of the concessions made to 11th Taranaki troops involved in a Takapau (Hawke’s Bay) Divisional Camp riot on May 2, 1914. The riot was sparked by his agitated men being soaked in bitterly cold, unrelenting, heavy rain with no change of clothing. The shape of the hat was changed so that rainwater would run off better. Army historian Colin Andrews has photographic evidence (The New Zealand Free Lance, May 9, 1914) of lemon squeezers being worn at Takapau. He maintains that a National Library New Zealand photograph of Malone and members of the Taranaki Volunteers wearing prototype lemon squeezers (which is documented as having been taken by George Leslie Atkin at Takapau circa 1911) was, in fact, taken in 1914. He points out that there was not an army camp at Takapau in 1911, but there was in April-May 1914. Andrews says another photograph found recently shows the then Capt Malone of the Stratford Rifle Volunteers wearing a lemon squeezer in 1902. Andrews notes that the New Zealand Militia Volunteers era was more casual about enforcing strict discipline than the regular military; volunteers held civilian occupations, which had to come first. “They were sort of weekend soldiers, and this is one of the reasons Maj Gen Godley, of the Imperial Army, was sent here by Lord Kitchener in 1910, and appointed commander of the NZ Defence Forces to help reorganise the NZ Army and establish the compulsory territorial force system to replace the NZ Volunteers.” In this less strict period, a captain could raise his own unit, which is what Malone did with his Stratford Rifle Volunteers. Andrews believes Malone’s decision in 1902 to personally adopt the Baden-Powell-style hat reflected the influence of the South African War (New Zealand contingents in South Africa wore a mix of slouch and lemon-squeezer hats). Malone saw his lemon squeezer as the signature of his authority, and/or he was seeking to influence his superior officers to adopt it for the rest of the Volunteer forces. He probably would not have had official approval, but at the time, none was needed. It is believed Malone wore this early lemon squeezer until 1911 – when the Territorial Force was formed. Andrews says the 1914 camp at Takapau from April 26-May 10, 1914 was not a brigade camp, but a divisional camp. More than 6000 troops were gathered at the largest peacetime Territorial Force camp in New Zealand till that time. UGLY INCIDENT The riot was “an ugly incident and probably the blackest day in the New Zealand Defence Force’s history on the home front”. It arose when bad weather, torrential rain and very cold, miserable conditions affected the temper of the troops – who had been issued with just one uniform and ordered not to take their mufti into camp – ended up chilled and soaked to the skin. The men then discovered that a delay in their railway transport would force country units to remain in camp for 17 days instead of the regular 13 days, and town units for 11

The Kiwi “lemon squeezer”military felt hat identified New Zealand soldiers all over the world for 44 years. It was placed abeyance by the New Zealand Army in 1960, but is still worn by the officer training unit, by all ranks on special ceremonial occasions, and sometimes by the New Zealand Army Band. But the origin of the famous “lemon squeezer” peaked felt hat has been the subject of ongoing debate. COLIN J ANDREWS, from Takapuna, Auckland, believes he may have cracked the mystery by using modern, hightech communication tools and by peering through the smokescreens.

days instead of nine – without provision for extra pay for the extra time. It was, says Andrews, a “significant incident of the worst case of military discipline, or lack of it, and perhaps a serious shortcoming in good organisational planning by the military and government authorities”. The Auckland Star newspaper reported: “After tea on Saturday (May 2) night, a number of the men started a procession, which rapidly grew in size and marched through the lines singing ‘We are going home on Friday’, and came across the guard tent in which several Territorials were confined. “The rumour that one of the men in the guard tent was under arrest for refusing to discard mufti for his uniform was sufficient pretext for an attack on the tent and a demand for the release of the men inside. “The picket met them with fixed bayonets and a patrol of mounted (military) police came on the scene and dispersed the procession “A crowd of about 500 men at once made a rush to headquarters, where a call was made for a hearing, and Col Chaytor, officer commanding the division, and Col Malone, officer commanding the 11th Taranaki Regiment, were greeted with cries of ‘When are we going home?’, ‘We are going home Friday’, ‘Imperial tommies treat us like colonial dogs’, ‘No work tomorrow’ and ‘We want more and better tucker’, accompanied by stone throwing. HEAT OF THE MOMENT In the heat of the moment, Malone made a concession and had his men change their slouch to lemon-squeezer configuration. Chaytor met a deputation from the 500 (which had swelled to 2000) rioting soldiers, and concessions were made that facilitated or understood many of the rioters’ demands. Says Andrews: “I suppose you could say the potentially mutinous soldiers won the day against the officers to the extent that not only were concessions made to the men, the authorities also decided through an immediate court of inquiry to pay the men the extra pay, confirmed by government on Monday, May 4, for the extra time they were compelled to spend in camp. “There is no record of any arrests or indeed disciplinary action having been executed against the soldiers who rioted. Later, because the weather conditions had made it so bad under foot, and many of the 1000 tents had been flooded after three days of continuous rain, at the end of Gen Sir Ian Hamilton’s morning inspection of the men, he gave the announcement to break camp, which was joyously received by the troops.” Ironically, 15 months later, the 11th Taranaki

COLIN ANDREWS joined the Regular Force Cadets, Kippenberger Class in 1959 and graduated into RNZEME in 1960 as the first indentured army signwriter apprentice. In 1965 he was posted as a lance corporal to 1RNZIR, Terendak Camp, Malaysia; he did two six-month tours of duty to Borneo during the Indonesian/Malaysian Confrontation in 1965-66. Back in New Zealand he was at the Papakura RNZEME workshops, then in 1969 went to Wellington as display artist with Army General Staff and, later HQ Home Command as a staff sergeant. He was involved in the planning and building of the New Zealand Army National Museum, at Waiouru, and proposal for a special museum wall displaying all the NZ Army corps badges in cast bronze became reality. After 22 years in the regular army, he retired in 1981. Whilst in the army he was the heraldic designer of several army badges, including the chaplains’ badge, the military police badge, and the banner for the NZ Army Band music stands. He is a long-time member of the New Zealand Military Historical Society and an original research writer contributor to its Volunteers Journal. As an RF Cadet, he was part of a 100-troop guard of honour at the official opening of Parliament in 1959 – the last time the lemon-squeezer hat was worn before it was placed in abeyance in 1960. The lemon squeezer was reinstated in 1976 as a ceremonial hat. Anzac Day 2014 provided a catalyst for his research into the origins of the lemon squeezer. His findings demonstrate that 2014 will represent the 100th anniversary of the first wide use of the lemon squeezer in the New Zealand Army.

boys who had instigated the riot, were among the Anzac heroes on Gallipoli where many of them were killed capturing Chunuk Bair. Colin Andrews also dispels the frequent reference attached to the notion this Takapau camp took place in 1911. The story goes that when Gen Sir Alex Godley, visited the camp, he noticed the change in uniform hats (from slouch to lemon squeezer) and requested Malone to ‘please explain’. The colonel did so by taking off his hat and demonstrating the differences. Godley demurred giving permission as it would be against uniformity, whereupon Malone – never one to give up – drew attention to the fact that his regiment was a rifle regiment, and, as such, did not conform to arms drill as did the other 15 regiments of infantry in the New Zealand Army. Malone informed Godley that the

governor-general, Lord Liverpool – who was honorary colonel of the regiment, came from the Rifle Brigade in the Imperial Army, and was commander-in-chief of the New Zealand Army – would be approached if the general did not accede to the request. Permission was immediately granted and the XIth Regiment thus introduced the peaked hat that was dubbed the lemon-squeezer.” However, says Andrews, Liverpool did not arrive in New Zealand until 1912, so he could not have featured in Malone’s determination to have his way with the lemon-squeezer hat shape in 1911. The Wellington and War veteran and the Ruahine units embarked for World War 1 wearing the lemon-squeezer hat in the Main Body, and some units, such as No. 9 Company, NZ Army


Remembering 17

RSA REVIEW • summer 2013

EZER REVEALS BITTER RIOT IN ORIGINS

This hat, now in the Puke Ariki heritage museum in New Plymouth, was worn by Edmond Malone MC during World War 1. Malone was wounded multiple times, returning to action before dying of injuries in France in 1918.

Service Corps, were wearing a mix of creases and dents in their lemon-squeezers to the front. But most of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force soldiers left New Zealand in 1914 wearing the crown, single dented – New Zealand’s flat brimmed, slouch type, felt hat. Head-dress was finally standardised in September 1916 through the formal adoption of the lemon-squeezer by the New Zealand Infantry Division of the NZEF. Order 135/1916 Dress: Slouch hat, wearing of. The slouch hat will in future be worn by all ranks as follows – brim horizontal – crown peaked”. This order brought the lemon-squeezer into general use as the hat shape for all in the New Zealand Army. The lemon-squeezer became recognised as identification for New Zealand troops all over the world in times of peace and war for the next 50 years. The New Zealand Army placed the lemonsqueezer in abeyance from service in 1960. However. it continued to be used by the Northern Military District, Territorial Force, Royal New Zealand Artillery (RNZA) Band until 1972. On December 1, 1976, the then chief of general staff, Maj Gen Ron D. P. Hassett, reinstated the lemon squeezer as the service dress, ceremonial headdress for the NZ Army. It is also worn by officer cadets in training, and on occasions, by the New Zealand Army Band. At the same time, Hassett introduced the New Zealand General Service badge to go on the lemon-squeezer’s puggaree, (hat-band). Historically known as the NZEF Badge, this had been worn from 1914 to 1947. It is supported by the old Permanent Staff Corps, Ceremonial Guards and ‘1937 Coronation Contingents’ scarlet puggaree. Hassett also oversaw the building and establishment of the National New Zealand Army Museum in 1978.

Lt Col William Malone (seated), wears the lemon -squeezer hat flanked by Stratford Rifle Volunteers in this photo taken at Takapau army camp in 1914. Malone saw his lemon squeezer as the signature of his authority and he sought to influence his superior officers to adopt it for the rest of the volunteer forces.

If this hat could tell a tale it would be of the astonishing bravery of Lt Edmond Malone MC There’s a lot of history under the lemon squeezer pictured upper left. Now in the Puke Ariki heritage museum in New Plymouth, this hat was worn during World War 1 by Edmond Malone MC, who served in World War 1 before dying of injuries in France in 1918. Lt Edmond Malone was the eldest son of Lt Col William Malone, the Stratford man who earned a prominent place in New Zealand’s military history after leading a doomed defence of Chunuk Bair in Gallipoli on August 8 1915, and is widely credited with leading the New Zealand Army’s adoption of the lemon-squeezer hat. Edmond Malone was working in the Okato district, a little south of New Plymouth, when World War I began on August 4, 1914. Within days, he and his brother, Terry, and his father had enlisted for overseas service. After a training period in Egypt they all served in Gallipoli. Terry was wounded on June 1, 1915 and Edmond on July 27. William, commanding officer of 1 Bn, Wellington Regiment, was killed in action on August 8, 1915, while leading the heroic attack and doomed defence of Chunuk Bair. He was 56; his body was never recovered from the steep summit slopes. Terry’s wound was so severe he was shipped home; Edmond recovered and was given a commission as a second lieutenant in his late father’s unit, the 1st Battalion of the Wellington Regiment in March 1916. Between April and early June Edmond served with the regiment in France before being

wounded again and spending a few months in an English hospital. While recuperating he met and fell in love with a nurse, Mary Brocklehurst, and they were married on July 4, 1917 at Watford. Edmond, who had been promoted to lieutenant, returned to the front. In October his right shoulder was badly shot up and he returned to England briefly to recuperate before returning to battle. In November 1917 he was awarded the Military Cross for “setting a splendid example of courage and energy to his men” while leading a platoon through heavy shell and machinegun fire during operations at Passchendaele. During heavy fighting in March 1918, part of a German spring offensive, he was again wounded seriously, this time in the left leg. He died on April 6. Edmond Malone is buried in the military section of the Wimereux Communal Cemetery, on the outskirts of Boulogne. His name is on the Okato War Memorial, along with other men of the district. Also on the memorial is a plaque commemorating Edmond’s Military Cross, which was unveiled on November 11, 1999 during a Remembrance Day Service. This hat was gifted to Puke Ariki by Laurence Roebuck, after it was given to him by Edmond Malone’s granddaughter in England. While researching his family history Roebuck discovered that his father, Bryan, was the illegitimate child of Edmond Malone, who had been briefly engaged to Bryan’s grandmother.

At the time of her husband’s death, Mary Malone was pregnant with their daughter, Elinor. In 1945, one of the Malone family visited Mary, who had never remarried. At her house she showed the visitor this lemon squeezer hat and Edmond’s Military Cross, which she had kept by her bed since his death. William Malone owned a farm in Taranaki in partnership with his brother; he later trained as a lawyer and had his own practice in Stratford. He was particularly interested in the military – he was in New Zealand’s militia, the Volunteer Force, and the Armed Constabulary, and took part in the last action of the New Zealand Land Wars, the questionable invasion of Parihaka in the early 1880s. In 1900, he helped raise and was a captain in the Stratford Rifle Volunteers, one of many units formed in the enthusiasm for the military during the Second South African War. When he moved to New Plymouth in 1903, he relinquished his command. As a result of a request from his Volunteer Force battalion commander, Malone was made adjutant of 4 Bn of the Wellington (Taranaki) Rifle Volunteers. In 1905 he was second-in-command and, by 1910, was its commander and a lieutenant colonel. When the Volunteer Force was abolished in 1911 and replaced with Lord Kitchener’s new Territorial Force of the New Zealand Army, Malone was in command of a new unit, the XIth Regiment (Taranaki Rifles).


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RSA REVIEW • SUMMER 2013

Health & Well-Being

Transport woes add to isolation Sue Russell We all share the same numbers as we track through our life’s journey, but for a sizeable proportion of those in their twilight years, life ends in a lonely, sad and unwell space. For Chrissy Hodkinson, who is at the helm of a busy community house in the small Waikato town of Raglan, one of the biggest issues affecting the elderly is social isolation in a town with no provision for public transport within its boundaries. “If there was one thing I would wish to see provided in some way for the elderly here, especially those living alone, it’s a means of getting out and about. Our one taxi service has stopped, so those on their own end up relying on others to offer them lifts into town.” She knows only too well that not everyone is willing to ask for help to get out of their home and into situations where they can socialise a little. In the end, it comes down to neighbours and family (who may live some distance away, if at all) to offer. “We’re very much part of a global village these days,” says Hodkinson. “Families are scattered around the world and we don’t know our neighbours the way we once did. This leads to isolation.”

Raglan’s Chrissy Hodkinson says one of the biggest problems affecting the elderly is social isolation in a town with no provision for public transport.

Raglan’s layout doesn’t help the situation either. While the central town area and foreshore are flat, most residential housing is in an elevated part of town. “They may be able to walk down to town, to visit the library or have a cuppa at a café and catch up with others, but many elderly just simply couldn’t walk back up the hill to home.” The community house does everything it can to act as a social space for those wanting to drop in for a cuppa and a chat. There’s always company available in the lounge, but Chrissy Hodkinson feels there is so much more that needs to be done. While Raglan is a small

community, much of the housing is holidayhome-type accommodation, with owners and visitors coming and going. “Some of our elderly live in streets where there are few permanent dwellings, so even the idea of being able to connect with neighbours comes as a challenge. And for some, its simply too much of a threshold to connect with support groups, such as Senior Citizens, that operate here.” She also sees inflation, and its effect on the ‘nest-egg’ carefully put away, as a contributing factor to loneliness. “By the time rates and essentials have been paid, there is often very little left over to spend on social engagement of one sort or another.” Hodkinson thinks Age Concern’s accredited visiting scheme is an excellent initiative, and she has seen the difference it makes for those fortunate enough to be selected for regular visits. “I’ve seen first-hand the difference it makes to those who are critically alone to know that once a week, someone will visit them, have a cuppa, perhaps take them out outside their four walls for a few hours.” In its slow and painful way, loneliness turns bit by bit into depression, in some cases acute, rendering sufferers without the will to try to find connections with others, or in worse cases, even attend to their own personal cares.

“It’s about us recognising the signs,” she says. “People start to shut down, and it is not just the elderly who are affected. I see what isolation does across the board, even to those who may have just retired.” It’s important to manage retirement transition in staged ways, she says. Very often those who work full-time and are looking forward to retirement have not found connections to continue with once they have retired, and the process is a shock. “Unless you have built up your connections and interests while working, it can be really hard to establish them then. I’m all for the idea of reducing working hours initially rather than stopping all together.” A negative pressure sometimes brought to bear on the elderly is the insistence they shift away from their homes to live closer to family in another town or part of the country. “My question is ‘How do you start to make friends in a new environment at that age?’, says Hodkinson. “It is not easy and, while the family may have the best intentions at heart, the reality is that very often there is less quality contact than when they lived some distance away.” The best way families can assist is to help Mum or Dad find connections and support them to stay in their community,” she says.

Being lonely, cut off, bad for health Sue Russell Research in the United Kingdom links the degree of loneliness with health risk, and the conclusions are alarming. “Having weak social connections carries a similar health risk to being an alcoholic or smoking 15 cigarettes a day,” says Age Concern president Evelyn Weir. The most common health risks include cardiovascular disease, low immunity, dementia and depression. “It all means that being lonely and cut off from family, friends and community is very bad for health,” says Weir. Other implications link the risk of dying younger to feeling alone for an extended time and, according to a University of Auckland study in 2006, an older person who is chronically lonely and depressed is almost twice as likely to enter residential care. Current research in New Zealand identifies nearly 50,000, or about 8% of people over 65 years of age, as severely or chronically lonely. Given these figures, we have a sizeable national issue on our hands. What Age Concern and other organisations working with and lobbying for the rights of the elderly would like to see happen from central government is more funding so support networks like Age Concern’s Accredited Visiting Service to reach more people. Louise Collins, Age Concern’s national adviser for elderly abuse and neglect prevention services, would like to see the geographical areas

Evelyn Weir: risks from loneliness similar to those from alcoholism and excessive smoking.

identified as most in need get first pickings. “Funding should come directly from Vote Health rather than through district health boards as is currently the case,” she says. Most elderly abuse is committed by family members and most older people do not want their cases dealt with through the courts. Family are very important to older people and, often, the alleged abuser is the only person the older person has any significant social contact with. It can begin as simply as a decision by the family that the views of their oldest relatives don’t matter any more. In the absence of engagement, their rights to determine use of their financial resources, where they live and who they live with, are taken from them. This can have a huge impact on sense of well-being, mental and physical health. At local-authority level, initiatives such as the Age Friendly Cities project adopted as a first in New Zealand by the Tauranga City Council are a positive step. The Tauranga City Council’s vision is a city where people can age positively, where elders are valued, and especially recognised as an integral part of the community. Meanwhile, for Chrissy Hodkinson, running the community house in Raglan, the daily aspiration at grass-roots level is to find all sorts of ways to create a richer, more heart-felt community for everyone, and especially the aged, to enjoy. Fran Graham, a former nurse, nursing teacher and life-long advocate for care of the aged, lives next to a rest home and hospital in Raglan. She has a thing or two to say about the more subtle indicators of lack of care she hears, especially at night: “You know it is not just about what is said to an elderly person by those entrusted with their care, but how it is said, the tone and energy in the voice. “You can sense very much about the relationship from the tone of voice. I hear things like “Now we’ve already done all this before”, spoken with an edge of exasperation and impatience in the middle of the night and I wonder just what it must be like to live out your last few years with this lack of dignity and respect for a long journey had.”

An older person who is chronically lonely is almost twice as likely to enter residential care.

Visiting service has positives for both sides Age Concern’s Accredited Visiting Service (AVS) is all about finding connections and, as Makerita Wade, Waikato’s regional co-ordinator for the service has seen, positives flow in both directions for those involved. “Ninety-eight per cent of visitors say they also benefit personally from being part of the service.” Each AVS client is matched with a policechecked and trained visitor. At the moment Wade has 300 clients. Most have been matched with a visitor, and the relationships can be enduring. AVS has existed for more than 20 years and at least one service operates in each district health board region. “I have some clients and visitors who have been with me for more than 20 years,” she says. “Sometimes, by the time a client is referred to us, he/she is very low healthwise and you see a change in their lives once visits are established. “ She puts this difference down to a feeling of being part of the community simply through some regular contact and the opportunities that come to get out and about a little. “When it comes to the elderly, especially, and

to the issues of isolation so many experience today, it is quite small interventions that can make the most significant changes.” Loneliness is insipid in nature. It doesn’t stay in the same ‘state of being’ for ever and, before long without intervention bringing social interaction, the day for many elderly their daily becomes one of ‘acute loneliness’. The difficulty is to recognise the subtle changes when they creep in day in day out. “Sometimes it is very hard to bring them out from that situation, and this is why the weekly or regular visits are so important,” says Wade. Her role is funded through the district health board and referrals come from a number of quarters, including GPs, district nurses, social workers, and connections with a variety of people providing community social services (such as Chrissy Hodkinson at Raglan’s community house). For the year to June 2013, Age Concern’s Accredited Visiting Service made more than 75,000 visits and around 16,500 phone calls in an effort to keep the lonely in touch with someone else.


Health & Well-Being 19

RSA REVIEW • SUMMER 2013

Don’t let new legislation put you off making a claim Margaret Snow, RSA manager advocacy and support Most of you will be aware the new legislation that will replace the War Pensions Act 1954 is now well on its way through Parliamentary procedures. Submissions have been written by the RNZRSA and by a number of RSAs around the country, as well other ex-services organisations and individuals. The Social Service Select Committee will read through all those submissions and listen to oral submissions before deciding what, if any, amendments it wishes to put before Parliament. Other amendments may also be made when the bill is debated in Parliament. The new legislation in some way takes us back to much earlier legislation when rehabilitation was a key feature. I think most of us would agree that rehabilitation to get us as fit as possible after injury or illness is a good thing. For those under retirement age, the target is to be rehabilitated to the point of being able to return to work. This may not be the work they were previously able to do, but at least meaningful work within their new capacities. For those older than retirement age, to be able to retain their independence as far as possible. The veterans’ support legislation provides two schemes. In general terms scheme one covers those who have served before April 1,1974, when accident compensation was introduced, and scheme 2 for those who served after that date. Note that those who served before April 1, 1974 still have the opportunity of making applications

in relation to disabilities and health concerns you now have as a result of the exigencies of your service, whether it was in a recognised war or emergency or not. For those who served after the introduction of accident compensation, New Zealand Defence Force, as an accredited employer under the ACC Act, continues to look after anything related to non-war or emergency service; additional assistance is afforded to those injured or becoming ill through qualifying operational service. Once the legislation is enacted, more information will become available in less legalistic terms, both from Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand and from the RNZRSA. The main thing is not to let the fact that the legislation has been updated put you off from making those all-important claims for disabilities and health concerns that you consider have been caused by your service. Psychiatric problems At the RNZRSA National Council we had two speakers on psychiatric problems. None of us like to think we might have a problem, and it is often up to our nearest and dearest to persuade us that perhaps we should go and have a chat with out GP and have a referral to a psychiatrist for help. Whilst a person remains in a supportive community like the Armed Forces, problems such as post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are kept at bay. Delayed onset is common and

difficulties can arise months, years and decades after exposure to a traumatic experience. Avoidance is part of the syndrome –that is avoiding similar situations, talking about what happened, not going to functions where former military colleagues might be. Many don’t go to reunions or attend their local RSA for fear it will bring those hard memories to the foreground. Importantly, avoidance of the issue is part of problem. People with PTSD have a memory that the emotion attached to is so intense it feels overwhelming. In some cases people don’t realise the problems they are having – such as relationship difficulties, low frustration tolerance, unmanaged emotion – are not just because they are going through a rough patch, but are signs of PTSD. I have found this to be true of many ex-service folk, who recognise they are short-tempered and take their frustrations out on their partner or children, or become overbearing in their demand for strict obedience to their orders, particularly from children. Coping strategies many sufferers adopt can make things harder for them, and for their family in particular. These can include: drinking to excess; isolating themselves from their peers, friends and family and staying alone; even leaving the family home to go bush. Things for family and friends to look out for are withdrawal, leaving the service (especially if they had been considering a long-term career in the military), distancing from mates and family,

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20

RSA REVIEW • SUMMER 2013

What’s On MONTHLY/TWO-MONTHLY CMT ASSOCIATION, SOUTH AUCKLAND BRANCH Meeting, second Saturday of month, Papakura RSA. Ex-CMT and National Servicemen welcome to join. Contact: John Bennetts – jandsbennetts@xtra.co.nz; 09 2986847. ITALY STAR ASSOCIATION (CHRISTCHURCH BRANCH) Meetings 8 Feb, 26 Apr, 21 Jun, 23 Aug, 25 Oct, 29 Nov (luncheon) 1.30pm, Cashmere Club, 88 Hunter Tce, Christchurch. New members (veterans, family members, historians) welcome. Contact: Peter Scott, chairman – 27 Kenwyn Ave, St.Albans, Christchurch 8052; 03 3556732; peter.judy@actrix.co.nz. NEW ZEALAND BRANCH, ROYAL MARINES ASSOCIATION Meetings 13 Apr, 8 Jun,10 Aug, 12 Oct, 14 Dec, 2pm, Pt Chevalier RSA, Auckland. Full membership to serving or former RM, RMR and RN, HM Forces RM units, family members, Royal Marines Cadets. Contact: Peter Collins – 634 Papakura-Clevedon Road, Ardmore RD2, Papakura 2582; 09 2967648; 0211 417119. peter-collins@xtra.co.nz; http://www.royalmarinesassociation.org/nz/rma_nz_home.html

JANUARY 2014 PARKINSON CLASS 1964 – REGULAR FORCE CADET SCHOOL REUNION 17-19 Jan, Rotorua RSA. 50-year aniversary of joining the army. Contact: Gordon Forrester, RF cadet 1964-66, reunion organiser – 04 5262349 (home); 027 4316799; gordon.forrester@xtra.co.nz.

FEBRUARY 2014 M FLIGHT 17 COURSE BOY ENTRANTS RNZAF 7-9 Feb Woodbourne, Blenheim. Contact: Ralph Brunsdon – brunsdon@ihug.co.nz; om Attwood – c/- Rotorua RSA, 1072 Haupapa St, Rotorua; tomattwood@xtra.co.nz.

MARCH 2014 21 COURSE BOY ENTRANTS RNZAF 21-23 Mar Woodbourne, Blenheim. This was “the last of the brats” – the next course were “airman cadets”. Contact: Geoff Hare, Tom Easterbrook, James Wood – moenui3@gmail.com.

MAY 2014 HMNZS OTAGO ASSOCIATION 54TH REUNION 9 -11 May, Napier RSA. All members and all other ships’ matelots and partners invited. Details: www.hmnzsotago.org; Claymore editor Terry Whimp – 09 4738854 (office hours); whimps@vodafone.co.nz. Registration form included with December 2013 Claymore and posted on website.

JUNE 2014 RNZRSA NATIONAL WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE/ANNUAL MEETING 16-17 Jun Tauranga RSA. Contact: Deidre Rich – 09 8343998; richfamily@xtra.co.nz.

SEPTEMBER 2014 HMNZS CANTERBURY REUNION – ALL COMMISSIONS 26-28 Sep Tauranga RSA. Register expressions of interest to: Bill Newell – 82 Twin Oak Ave, Papamoa 3118; 07 5421412; newell1@outlook.co.nz. 2RNZIR BAND REUNION 25-28 Oct (Labour Weekend). Expressions of interest sought. Contact: Les Thompson – 03 323 8984; 021 02227739; steelhip@clear.net.nz.

novEMBER 2015 RNZN ENGINE ROOM BRANCH REUNION (PROPOSED) 6-8 Nov, Napier. Expressions of

interest. Contact: Dennis Zachan – 12 Norrie Place,Tamatea, Napier; 06 8442201; 021 673242.

2016 23 INTAKE RNZAF AIRMAN CADET SCHOOL/5 CET 5OTH ANNIVERSARY Anniversary reunion proposed. Contact: Dave Bryant – davebryant@telus.net; https://sites.google.com/ site/23intakeairmancadetschoolrnzaf/home.

CALLS TO JOIN AUCKLAND CMT/NS ASSOCIATION INC

Welcomes all ex-CMT & National Service men who trained with the army, navy and air force under the scheme. Contact: Brian Caltaux – 09 4202004; caltauxbands@xtra.co.nz. BRITISH AIRBORNE FORCES (NZ) INC Are (or were) you para-Trained? Would you like to meet other ex-(or even current) paras, from the Parachute Regiment, SAS, or from the supporting arms - engineers, signals, medics, artillery etc? Would you like to help maintain the Airborne spirit around the world, and particularly in New Zealand? We meet regularly in Northern (Auckland to Taupo), Central (Taupo to Wellington) and Southern (South Island). Full membership - all ranks of Parachute Regiment, SAS, supporting arms, and those with special service to British Airborne Forces; associate membership - immediate family; affiliate membership - those in airborne units of other countries. Contact: Frank Clark, president – 04 2336123. Roy Tilley, secretary – 04 5660850, rmt@xtra.co.nz. Website, www.britishairbornenz.tripod.com. CANT NMWC REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATION Seeking members to rekindle their activity with the association. Regular meetings at Papanui RSA, Christchurch. Send rank, name, address, phone number and e-mail address to: Frank Newsome – 107a Langdons Rd, Papanui Christchurch 8053; 03 3525471; frankandaudrey@clear.net.nz. CMT ASSOCIATION CHRISTCHURCH INC If you took part in CMT or National Service training in the army, navy or air force, contact: Alison Smith, secretary – CMT Assoc Inc, 21 Kearneys Rd, Bromley, Christchurch 8062, 03 9817623, legles@paradise.net.nz. CMT ASSOCIATION SOUTH AUCKLAND BRANCH Ex-CMT and National Servicemen welcome. Meets monthly, 2nd Saturday, Papakura RSA. Contact: John Bennetts – jandsbennetts@xtra. co.nz; 09 2986847.

of deceased eligible personnel welcome. MTA aims to bring former comrades together again through national reunions, members’ birthdays, funerals, unveilings, and regimental occasions. Managed by six-person trust board: Chris Cooper (chairman), Bob Williams (secretary), Christine Campbell (treasurer), Doug Morrow, Geoff Kreegher,Colin Campbell. Prospective members in New Zealand should contact nearest troop co-ordinator; overseas, contact MTA secretary. Contacts: Secretary – Bob Williams, P.O. Box 384, Thames 3540, New Zealand; +64 7 8686506; bw.crescent@xtra.co.nz. Troop coordinators – Auckland: Moa Larkins, P.O.Box 300014, Albany, Auckland 752; manofaction@ slingshot.co.nz. Waikato/Bay of Plenty: Chris Cooper, cooppen@xtra.co.nz; 07 5444917. Hawke’s Bay: Willie Walker, 19 Pania Place, Parklands Estate, Napier; willieanddenise@hotmail.co.nz. Taranaki: Lenny Robinson, LENR@xtra.co.nz; 06 7638594. Central/Southern North Island: Stew Couchman, blongami@xtra.co.nz; 06 3258593. NEW ZEALAND BATTLE OF CRETE ASSOCIATION Contact: Deirdre Hauschild - c/- Mount Maunganui RSA, P.O.Box 4011, Mount Maunganui South 3116; 07 5764362; dee.hauschild@gmail.com. NEW ZEALAND BRANCH, ROYAL MARINES ASSOCIATION Meets two-monthly, 2pm, Pt Chevalier RSA, Auckland. Full membership to serving or former RM, RMR and RN, HM Forces RM units, family members, Royal Marines Cadets. Contact: Peter Collins – 634 PapakuraClevedon Rd, Ardmore R.D.2, Papakura 2582; 09 2967648; 021 1417119; peter-collins@xtra. co.nz; www.royalmarinesassociation.org/nz/ rma_nz_home.html. NEW ZEALAND KOREA VETERANS ASSOCIATION INC Veteran membership available to NZDF members who have completed a United Nations Military Commission posting since 1 Jan 1958 and have been awarded appropriate medallic recognition. Membership details: Douglas Callander, secretary – 23 Longcroft Tce, Newlands, Wellington 6037; 04 4783238; 04 4783602 (fax); callanderd@clear.net.nz. NEW ZEALAND MALAYAN VETERANS ASSOCIATION INC Welcomes new members who served with Commonwealth forces or police in Malaya/Malaysia/Borneo or Singapore. Contact: Barry Allison – 6 Coldstream Rd, Gisborne 4010; 06 8677284; bazbarbzinggizzie@xtra.co.nz; www.malaya.vets.co.nz

OX & BUCKS LI, KINGS ROYAL RIFLE CORPS, RIFLE BRIGADE AND ROYAL GREEN JACKETS All past members of RGJ and former regiments invited. Contact: Frank Jones – 09 4766974. RAF CHANGI ASSOCIATION Includes HQ FAR East Air Force, seeks NZ members ex RAF or RNZAF, who served at RAF Changi 1946-71. Contact: B W Lloyd – 32 Redwood, Burnham, Bucks, SL1 8JN, UK. REGULAR FORCE CADET ASSOCIATION (INC) Provides contact between ex-cadets and enables them to re-establish contacts. Membership – $10 a year (July 1-June 30). Contact: Secretary, RF Cadet Association, P.O.Box 715, Paraparaumu 5032; www.rfcadet,org.nz. RNZAF COMMAND AND STAFF COLLEGE GRADUATES The New Zealand Defence Force Command and Staff College alumni association. Records of previous associations’ members misplaced during move from Whenuapai to Trentham in 2004. Contact us if you wish to join, would like latest information, or wish to re-connect with former colleagues and course members. Contact: Alumni secretary NZDF CSC – Trentham Military Camp, Private Bag 905, Upper Hutt 5140; 04 5271008; 04 5271009 (fax); csc.alumni@nzdf.mil.nz. ROYAL NEW ZEALAND NAVY ASSOCIATION, CANTERBURY BRANCH All who served in RNZN or Commonwealth navies, and partners welcome. Monthly meetings, regular social get-togethers, ship visits, quarterly newsletter. Contact: Miles McIlraith (ex-RNZN), treasurer – 4987 State Highway 75, R.D., Little River 7591; 03 3251937; 03 3251936 (fax). SOUTH AFRICAN MILITARY VETERANS OF AUSTRALASIA (SAMVOA) All who served in uniform in South Africa and now live in New Zealand eligible. SAMVOA, which is running in Australia, wants to preserve memories, and commemorate those who were killed or injured in action. Remembrance, Anzac Day parades, regular meetings. Information and application form: Chris Pattison – 021 2316612; ytrose@ vodafone.co.nz. TS VINDICATRIX ASSOCIATION Ex-Vindicatrix boys (those who served on training ship ) invited to join Lower North Island branch. Write: Arthur Woolard – 21 Pohutukawa Drive, R.D.1, Levin 5571.

CMT ASSOCIATION SOUTH CANTERBURY BRANCH Ex-CMT and National Servicemen welcome. Meets monthly, 2nd Saturday, Papakura RSA. Contact: John Bennetts – jandsbennetts@ xtra.co.nz; 09 2986847. HOROWHENUA ARTILLERY ASSOCIATION – LEVIN 50th year, seeking new members - gunners, ex-gunners, associated corps. Meets May and September to celebrate Gunners’ Day and El Alamein Day, lunch, Levin RSA. Contact: Adam Gibson – 34 Gordon Place, Levin; 06 3684187. EX-RAF HALTON, RAF LOCKING OR RAF CRANWELL AIRCRAFT, RNZAF APPRENTICES. Contact: Ed Austin – 67/46 Beresford St, Pukekohe 2120, 09 2392698, edaustin38@gmail.com. HMNZS LACHLAN 1949–53 FIRST TWO COMMISSIONS 60th ANNIVERSARY, FINAL REUNION Contact: Keith Goddard – 4 Kimberley Rd, Waihi 3610, 07 8633318, 021 2516220, goddz@ xtra.co.nz. Frank Robb – 14/57 Enfield St, Hamilton 3200, 07 8644246. MOUNTED TROOPERS ASSOCIATION North Island branch, Royal NZ Armoured Corps Association. $25 annual subscription includes MTA and RNZAC membership. Anyone who has served in RNZAC units eligible join – only criteria is having worn the ‘Black Beret’. Spouses

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Is someone else spending your money? Are you being bullied by family to hand over money? It is OK to say “NO” You have a choice

Christmas should be a happy occasion where we can enjoy spending time with family. But with Christmas comes the pressure to buy. Unfortunately, some family members think that parents and grandparents should hand over some of their savings to enable them to buy the things they want. Many older people are happy to help out their family. This is their choice, but they should never feel pressured to hand over money or assets, particularly when they need it for essentials or to be able to do the things they plan to do in retirement.

It’s OK to say no

With first home mortgages now harder to get, parents and grandparents are an easy target for an interest-free loan. This has even been promoted as a sensible idea in the media. But history tells us that family loans are usually the last to be repaid. So, ask yourself, can you do without that money in your retirement? The reality is you may never get it back. Loaning money to families can cause bad blood when the lender needs the money back, but the borrower can’t repay it. Are you prepared to take this risk? If you have plans to use the money for yourself in the future, we recommend you say NO. If you do decide to help out with a mortgage, we advise you to make a formal arrangement through a lawyer so that everyone is clear about expectations.

Have your children come back to stay?

With increased unemployment, many adult children are going back to live with Mum and Dad in the family home. Intergenerational living can be a positive experience for everyone, but before this happens, you need to be very clear about who is paying for what. Knowing the rules will help to keep relationships positive and avoid the stress of having to raise these issues at a later date when the bills start to pile up. A person with Enduring Power of Attorney for an older person’s property has a responsibility to use that person’s money for the benefit of that older person, not for themselves. If you know of someone who is helping themselves to an older person’s superannuation or selling their assets – including their house – and taking the money for themselves, contact your nearest Age Concern. It’s not OK!

Help is available

• Specialist elder abuse and neglect prevention (EANP) services operate throughout New Zealand. They provide free, confidential support, advice and information, linking with services in the community to help where appropriate. Visit www.ageconcern.org.nz for more information and contact details of EANP services. • Talk to someone you trust – a friend or someone in your family. • Talk to someone you see regularly – a doctor, a doctor’s nurse, or a member of a church or spiritual leader. • If you or an older person are in danger, call the Police. • Call the Family Violence Information Line on 0800 456 450 • For a list of services in your area, go to: www.familyservices.govt.nz and click on Family Services Directory.

IT IS TO ASK FOR HELP Call 0800 456 450

Age Concern can help | www.ageconcern.org.nz


22

RSA REVIEW • SUMMER 2013

RSA Life

WHAKATANE offer yields instant return Sue Russell The Whakatane RSA’s initiative to offer a threemonth subscription in the hope of bringing in new members certainly seems to be working. “We’re thrilled with the response. It shows that with some imagination we can find new ways to attract members,” says club president John Bluett. Three hundred new members have taken up the special offer and joined the club, swelling total membership to about 2800. He believes the Whakatane RSA is in very

good heart, and puts this down in part to a very committed executive group. “We have got some really good hard-working members on the executive. A lot of them are still working, yet they find the time out of their commitment to see this club thrive, to devote a lot of energy to the club.” As testament to the good heart of the club, he says there were more nominees than places on the executive. Eight hundred of the club’s 2800 or so members are Returned or Service members. As a result the club maintains strong links to its founding

ideals – to be a place where the service and sacrifice of those who have served this country in all theatres of war and conflict New Zealand has been involved with, are remembered, honoured and respected. Along with the influx of new members, there have been some key changes in the layout of the spaces to afford a much better, more modern feel – changes that John Bluett are already being enjoyed by patrons. “We wanted the club to have a more modern look, so we looked at how other bars and restaurants were laid out and decided to alter the

club layout and create a sports bar with access to outside spaces.” An area for the sports enthusiasts was created out of the space left when two of the club’s four snooker tables were retired. It’s popular with punters and those who follow sports on the televisions set up in the new sports area. Adjunct life is strong at Whakatane, particularly the 8 ball and the travel groups, says Bluett. The travel club organises four or five trips away a year, including one or two overnighters. To page 23

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RSA Life 23

RSA REVIEW • SUMMER 2013

Rugby success ensures memory

RSA SERVICE AWARDS PRESENTED

RSA national president Don McIver (striped RNZRSA tie) presents Hastings RSA president Trevor Hardie (left) with a Gold Star, and the club’s patron, Brian Bennett (right), with the District Long Service Award. The presentations were made at the club’s annual members’ luncheon .

Takapau gates dedicated

Above: Heather Vaile (left , immediate past president of the Whangarei RSA’s Waipu Women’s Section, receives her life membership certificate and 57-year, long-service award certificates and accompanying medals from RNZRSA National Women’s Association president Angel Erstich

Ten teams – five boys and five girls – from KapiMana high schools have ensured a rugby sevens tournament in memory of a police officer killed on duty becomes an annual event. The tournament – which was being staged for the second time – involved schools from Bishop Viard College, Mana College, Porirua College, Aotea College and Paraparaumu College (another two schools pulled out at very late notice). The event is organised by the Derek Wootton Memorial Trust, Kapi-Mana Police and the Porirua RSA. Derek Wootton was a Porirua police officer

who was killed in July 2008. His parents were returned service members of the Porirua RSA, and his late mother became a life member. One of the aims of the trust, set up on the anniversary of his death in 2009, is to support Porirua/Kapiti youth by helping improve their lives by sports, cultural or academic means. The tournament was sponsored by the trust, the Porirua RSA, and John Ryan Plumbing. Derek Wootten’s old school, Bishop Viard College, won the boys’ section, and Aotea College the girls’ event.

Around 100 people – a mix of war veterans, returned service personnel, military cadets and members of the community – gathered in the Gardens of Remembrance at the Whangarei RSA to commemorate Armistice Day. Whangarei RSA K Force Association president Chas Sibun officiated. The service began with the New Zealand national anthem sung by young soloist Claudia

Evans, followed by prayers of remembrance and thanksgiving by the chaplain, Rev George Nathan-Patuawa. Whangarei district deputy mayor Sharon Morgan described the sequence of events and their impact around New Zealanders when they received word of the armistice in 1918. Whangarei RSA executive committee member Richard Field, speaking on behalf of club president D’Arcy Bailey, paid tribute to the New Zealanders who served in World War 1, particularly the large number who did not return and those injured in action. He also recognised the significant efforts of all New Zealanders who made their contribution at home or abroad. Whangarei District Council, Whangarei RSA and Whangarei RSA Women’s Section wreaths were laid, Colin Rapana played the Last Post, the flag was lowered and the Ode was recited by World War 2 veteran George Barclay. The flag was raised as the Reveille sounded, and many took placed poppies at the memorial.

Whangarei gathers to commemorate

When Takapau & District RSA president Andy Kells approached the Central Hawke’s Bay District Council about doing something with the club’s rapidly deteriorating old gates, he sparked quite a community project. Central Hawke’s Bay College fifth former Matthew Wynne Harris was involved through his Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme community service; Taylor Made Gates crafted the design; Craig Sergeant Fencing installed the gates. Two swinging gates now address the cenotaph, and there is a single-entry gate to the expanded Takapau RSA president Andy Kells (left) and Central Hawke’s Bay College student Matthew Wynne Harris in front of the new gates. parking area.

Whakatane stones commemorate all of New Zealand’s conflicts From page 23 In another development, an outdoor area which houses memorial stones commemorating every conflict involving New Zealand service personnel, is about to receive a new plaque in honour of those who have fought in Afghanistan, Bosnia and the Solomons. A special blessing of the memorial was scheduled for December 14.

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PHOTOS: Renovations have brought what president John Bluett terms “a more modern look and feel” to the Whakatane RSA – both inside and outside.

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24 RSA Life - Silverdale and Districts RSA

RSA REVIEW • SUMMER 2013

Christmas feast first for club Karen Phelps Christmas day will see the Silverdale and Districts RSA host its inaugural Christmas lunch. Club manager Sue East says this is the result of demand from members. The message from members alerted the RSA to the need to provide such an event in the area, she says. “There are a lot of people on their own or couples and families who don’t want to cook a big lunch. “At the RSA they can come along and celebrate with others. We’ve already got good numbers signed up.” Christmas lunch at the Silverdale RSA will include the usual favourites – such as roast turkey and ham, smoked salmon platter and a variety of vegetables. Followed by the traditional dessert of plum pudding, pavlova, custard and fruit salad. On New Year’s Eve the RSA will welcome in 2014 with the help of a band, Rock n’ Roll Heaven. This event is reserved seating only, with selling at $38 a head. The price includes a buffet meal. Sue East says Silverdale’s membership remains healthy – it is currently sitting around 3600 members. December has been a busy time at Silverdale, with a host of events leading into the holiday season. Things kicked off with a Christmas party

The Silverdale RSA is a popular venue for weddings, birthdays, and special events. The catering manager, in consultation with the organisers, can create a menu.

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Fun and games at a St Patrick’s Day celebration at the Silverdale and District RSA.

for the kids on December 14, with a range of activities for the little ones. The entertainment included a fancy dress, bouncy castle, pony rides, games, face painting, stalls and raffles. Silverdale’s final members draw for 2013 took place on December 11, and on December 18, there will be a monster raffle in which a $5 ticket will give members the opportunity to win heaps of prizes. Sue East suspects that many members don’t really know all the Silverdale RSA has on offer. Its gaming area contains 18 machines, and its a la carte restaurant offers a rock or stonegrill option. The RSA, which is on the Hibiscus Coast, has proved a popular venue for weddings and events. There are two areas for weddings, including an olive grove and a deck with bush views. Because the RSA doesn’t charge a venue hire fee as long as the wedding breakfast is held in the restaurant, it is a good option for such events, says East. “Our catering manager can come up with a menu for the wedding in discussion with the

couple and even bake the wedding cake. We also do other types of events such as special birthdays.” The restaurant is open for dinner Sunday and Tuesday (5.30-7.30pm), Wednesday-Saturday (5.30-8.30pm), and for lunch Tuesday-Saturday (noon-2pm) and Sunday (12.30–2pm). Deep sea dory, thai chicken and coconut curry, and pan-seared scallops on rocket with lemon aioli are just some of the dishes on the menu. The Silverdale and Districts RSA has a number of active club sections, including pool, darts, snooker, indoor and outdoor bowls and golf. There are also facilities for younger members and families, such as an x-box and a special kids’ menu in the restaurant. And, says Sue East, something that many people probably do not know is that the Silverdale and Districts RSA has its own memorabilia museum. The museum, which is open every Wednesday from 1pm to 4pm,includes a replica World War 2 Spitfire fighter aircraft. • Prices and booking details for events: www. silverdalersa.com.

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25

RSA REVIEW • SUMMER 2013

Local RSAs Kaikohe & District Memorial RSA (Inc)

Northland

Northren Wairoa RSA Club

We are open everyday from 11am

All Visitors Most Welcome

Clubrooms open 11am Meals: Thurs Fri & Sat 6-8pm Light Lunches: Always available Catering on request 09 439 8164

KAITAIA FAR NORTH (Kaitaia) RSA CLUB

Matthews Avenue, Kaitaia When visiting the Far North you are welcomed to visit our Clubrooms where comfort and friendship is assured. Billiards - Snooker - Pool - Bowls - Darts

Pleasant lounge and excellent bar facilities

• • • • •

Sky TV TAB Pod Gaming Machines Pool Tables Courtesy Van Available

Courtesy Coach Available Please phone (09) 408 0423

WHANGAREI THE HUB OF THE CITY

Warmly welcomes visitors to our Clubrooms at 7 Rust Ave Bar Service 7 days Snooker, Pool, Darts, Gaming Courtesy Coach Bistro Wed to Fri 12-2 & 5-8p.m. Saturday 6-8p.m. PH 09 438 3792 admin@whangareirsa.co.nz

www.whangareirsa.co.nz

MEMORIAL RSA

“Friendliest Club in Town” 158 Broadway, Kaikohe Ph 09 401 2368 Fax 09 401 2370 kaikohersa@xtra.co.nz “Look us up on Facebook”

Visitors always welcome ANY CHANGES TO CLUB ADVERTS OR CLASSIFIED ADVERTS PLEASE CONTACT DAVE McKEE Ph: 03 983 5518 Fax: 03 983 5552 Email:davem@waterfordpress.co.nz

Welcomes visiting RSA members. Open 7 days from 11.00am. Catering 7 days from 12 noon. Monday nights for Rebel (Outdoor) Bowls. Wednesday nights for Texas Hold’ Em poker. Friday nights for Karaoke.

663 SWANSON RD - PH 833 9013

A warm invitation is extended TO RSA members & Guests to the friendliest RSA in the West

The Orpheus Restaurant

SILVERDALE

43A Vipond Rd, Whangaparaoa, Turn off at top of Silverdale Hill onto Whangaparaoa Peninsula. Vipond Rd is 2.7km on left A special welcome to members of clubs with reciprocal visiting rights to use our club facilities. Comfort & friendship is assured

Open Thurs - Sat lunch 12 - 2 pm, dinner 5.30 - 8pm Bus Trip Lunches phone Rona Major Games on Big Screen or Weekend Entertainment Snooker - Pool - Darts - Warriors Supporters Section

We have excellent facilities for reunions and other functions NEW RETURNED AND SERVICE MEMBERS WELCOME. Inquiries to Sec/Manager 09 636 6644 PO Box 13016, Onehunga

Family Restaurant Hrs Lunch: 12-2pm, Tues-Sat. 12.30pm-2pm Sun Dinner 5.30-8.30pm Wed-Sat, 5.30-7.30pm Tues & Sun Note Sunday Lunch & Dinner Carvery

HOBSONVILLE

114 Hobsonville Road • Ph: 09 416 7227 Restaurant Ph: 09 416 9239 • E: hobbyrsa@xtra.co.nz

Meals Our spacious Restaurant allows us to cater for up to 200 people at any one time Lunch open from Wednesday - Sunday 12 - 2pm Dinners Wednesday - Saturday 5 - 8.30pm Sunday Buffet 5 - 7.30pm We have large outdoor garden area, Big Screen for major games, Sky T.V., pool, bowls, darts, cards, fishing, golf, quiz.

Open: 11am Mon-Sat. Noon on Sun

AUCKLAND

Ph: 09 489 6738

The Razza....the place to be.

11am - 11.30pm Sun 1pm - 9pm

Hours 11am-10pm, Mon to Sat. Noon-6pm Sun

Family Restaurant - Meals Wed Thurs Friday and by arrangement.

Cnr Northcote Rd & Mary Poynton Cres

Hours Mon toThurs 11am - 11pm. Fri & Sat

Restaurant hours Mon and Thurs 6.00 -7.45pm or by arrangement Membership Night on Monday

Hokianga Rd Dargaville Ph: 09 439 8164

TAKAPUNA RSA CLUB

SWANSON

RSA

A warm welcome is assured to all members and visitors. Special welcome to local and out of town visitors.

Open Tues - Thurs from 2pm. Fri - Sun from Midday. • Restaurant open Fri - Sun lunch, Wed - Sun Dinner. Excellent meals at reasonable prices. • Live entertainment last Friday of each month. • Quiz Nights 7pm 3rd Thursday of every month. Car Boot Sale last Sunday of every month 8am, sellers $8 • Excellent Bar staff & service • Large car park. Easy bus turnnig • Coach Tours welcome - advance booking essential • Facilities available for function hire • Other facilities include darts, pool, indoor bowls & fishing club

THE SMALL RSA WITH THE BIG HEART

Glen Eden RSA

Bus trips catered for by request.

Entertainment & Dancing Fri & Sat night Snooker * Pool * Indoor Bowls * Fishing *Outdoor Bowls * Golf and Darts* Gaming Machines Raffles: Wed, Thurs

Contact Sec/Manager Sue East 09 424 9026 Fax: 09 424 2446

9 Glendale Rd West Auckland Ph: 09 818 4219 Web: www.glenedenrsa.co.nz

Meals Lunch: Tues - Fri. Dinner: Thurs - Sun. Entertainment: Fri & Sat.

We are better than the rest. We are the friendliest in the West

ORAKEI RSA

Ph: 09 528 6245 & 09 521 2710

(Members)

Hours: Mon : 12-7.30pm. Tues:11am-8pm

Wed: 11-9pm. Thurs & Fri: 11-11pm. Sat: 11-9pm. Sun: 2-7pm. Bistro Lunch Tues-Fri 12-2pm. Evening Thurs-Fri 6-8pm Function room bookings for catering. Sports sections, gaming machines ,Sky TV, big screen TV Handy to city centre, Ellerslie Race Course, Kelly Tarlton Underwater World, Eastern suburbs, Mission Bay, St Helliers, Remuera etc.

Ph 09 846 8673 1136 Great North Rd

Affiliated Members and Guests Most Welcome Restaurant, Family Karaoke Sundays from 1pm Functions venue available email admin@ptchevrsa.co.nz

Friday night raffles, Entertainment Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun

BIRKENHEAD RSA

WARKWORTH & DISTRICTS RSA Inc 28 Neville St Warkworth Ph 09 425 8568 Opening Hours 11am Mon - Sat 3pm Sun Gunners' Restaurant

Lunch 12 - 1.30pm Wed- Fri Dinner 5 - 8.30pm Thurs-Sat Full Bar Facilities 18 Pokies * Mystery J/P * Sky Tv * Pool * Snooker * Darts * Bowls

Live Entertainment & Dancing every Friday evening.

Call in on your way north & view our memorabilia tables - A warm welcome awaits you

RUSSELL RSA 1 Chapel St Russell 0202 Ph: 09 403 7773 Fax: 09 403 7885Email: russellrsa@xtra.co.nz www.russellrsa.org.nz

OPEN 7 DAYS FROM 11AM TILL CLOSE

Diggers Restaurant open 7 days Lunch & Dinner Bar snacks available Pool, Darts, Gaming Machines Huge outdoor courtyard

Come and enjoy our clubrooms while holidaying in historical Russell We will make you welcome

Ph 09 407 8585 37 Cobham Road

KERIKERI

RSA (Inc) Visitors and Guests Most Welcome Bistro Wed-Sun 5.30 - 8.30pm

Open Seven Days

Recreation Dr, Birkenhead, North Shore Ph: 09 418 2424 Fax: 09 418 3054 Email: secman@birkenheadrsa.com www.birkenheadrsa.com We welcome all RSA members & their guests to enjoy the friendly atmosphere & excellent facilities at our clubrooms

Clubrooms Open Sat - Mon 11am Tues - Fri 9 am Bar Open 7 Days from 11am Don Stott Memorial Restaurant

Provides excellent ecconomical A la Carte meals Wed-Friday 12 -2pm Wed-Sunday from 5.30pm. Groups by arrangement

Live Entertainment

Wed: 1.30-4pm. Fri & Sat: from 7.00pm Pool * Darts * I/D Bowls * TAB Large Screen Sky * Gaming Machines Tea/Coffee & light Meals anytime

ALL NEW MEMBERS WELCOME

WAIHEKE RSA

INC

29 Belgium Street, Ostend

Clubrooms and Bar Open 7 Days Restaurant Open 6 Days, closed Monday Take advantage of the free transport to our doorstep for Super Gold Card holders. Spoil yourselves with a trip to our wonderful Island and enjoy our hospitality. Ph: (09) 372 9019 Bar: (09) 372 5554

Restaurant: (09) 372 6655 E-mail: waiheke.rsa@xtra.co.nz

163 Queens Rd, Panmure

Bar Menu Seven Days. Bus loads by arrangement. Live Entertainment every 2nd Friday

Darts - Pool - Snooker - Gaming Machines - Courtesy coach available for local pick-ups / drop-offs When in Auckland Visit our Friendly Club.

NEW LYNN

Memorial RSA (Inc)

2 Veronica St Ph: 09 827 3411 Where a friendly welcome is assured. A must stopover when visiting Auckland BAR & TAB FACILITIES Open 7days Gaming Facilities FREYBERG RESTAURANT Lunches: Tues-Sun 12-2pm, Dinner: Wed-Sat 5.30pm open

Band Friday Nights Handy to rail & bus. Shop in New Lynn & relax in our spacious clubrooms

The Best in the West

When visiting Auckland’s Eastern Suburbs call into our pleasant clubrooms and enjoy our hospitality

IN THE  OF HOWICK Fridays & Saturdays from 7 pm DINE & DANCE LIVE MUSIC www.howickrsa.co.nz

HENDERSON RSA

66-70 Railside Ave Ph (09) 838 9012 www.hsnrsa.co.nz

Mt Wellington Panmure RSA Ph: 09 570 5913 Fax: 09 570 5903 Email secrsa@vodafone.co.nz

HOWICK RSA

Phone: 09 534 9702 • 25 Wellington St Howick

PAPATOETOE DISTRICT RSA (Inc)

22 Wallace Rd Ph: 09 278 6372 Email: papatoetoersa@xtra.co.nz Bar Hours Mon 11am -7.30pm Tues, Wed: 11am - 10pm Thurs: 11am - 10.30pm Fri: 11am - 10pm Sat: 11am - 11pm Sun: noon - 7pm BISTRO Lunch: Tues -Fri 12-1.00pm Dinner: Tues 6pm - 7.30pm Thurs Fri Sat 6pm - 8.00pm. Ph: 09 278 6374

(Hours may vary without prior notice) Social Nights with live bands: Thurs & fortnightly Saturday. Family Nights - have entertainment on the second Friday of the month and starting in mid-July on Friday nights, Housie, Trivia and Karaoke

Snooker Gaming Machines 8 Ball I/D Bowls Darts Sky Tv

Whether you are going to or from the Airport or just passing through pop in & spend a relaxing & friendly time with us.

We Are Your Airport Club

Service with a smile, and bar prices better than most. 18 gaming machines, self service TAB, Housie every Thursday, live entertainment Friday and Saturday evenings, 4 snooker tables, 3 pool tables and 8 competition dart boards. 5 big screen TV’s.

Whatever you’re interested in we’ve got it covered, visit us today!

EAST COAST BAYS RSA (Inc)

15 Bute Road Browns Bay Ph: 09 478 8033 North of the Harbour Bridge

When heading north, staying or visiting the North Shore, stop at East Coast Bays RSA

AVONDALE RSA Overlooking the Racecourse

Come & visit your mates. A friendly Welcome Assured

MEALS Lunch: Mon to Fri Dinner: Everynight Entertainment: Thursday, Friday and Sunday Evenings If you are in town give us a call. Ph: 09 828 5000

Lunches Tues-Sat 12-2pm.Dinner Wed Carvery 6-8pm Thurs-Sat 6-8.30pm Sun from 5.30pm VISIT OUR CLUBROOMS Open: Mon-Sat from 11am Sun 2-8pm

Dancing Fri & Sat 7.30pm

Coach tours welcome by arrangement

Darts * Pool * Snooker Housie * I/d Bowls * Dinning & Dancing A warm welcome to all members & their guests


26

RSA REVIEW • SUMMER 2013

Local RSAs MANUREWA

OTOROHANGA MEMORIAL

2-8 Maich Road, Manurewa Phone: 09 267 0515 Office & Fax : 09 266 8673

Now located in The Otorohanga Club, Maniapoto Street, Otorohanga Open 9am Monday to Saturday, 11am Sunday

RSA (Inc)

Lunches: Tues-Sun 12-2pm Dinners: Wed-Sun 5.30-8.30pm Sun: from 5.30pm Anzac Bar: Entertainment every Fri-Sat-Sun Darts : Snooker : 8 Ball : Bowls: Sky Tv : Gaming : TAB

President Graham & members extend the hand of friendship to you & yours and invite local & out of town visitors to our friendly new RSA Clubrooms

All new members most welcome

WAIKATO / KING COUNTRY / bAY OF PLENTY

TE AROHA MEMORIAL RSA (Inc) Rewi Street

Ph 07 884 8124

Club open from Mon 3pm- Tues - Sat 2pm, Meals Available Thurs, Fri, Sat from 6pm A warm, friendly welcome awaits you

VISITORS CORDIALLY WELCOME

OPOTIKI COUNTY RSA INC When passing through Opotiki call in and enjoy our hospitality.

We are the Gateway to East Cape Club Hours: Mon-Sat 1pm till late Sun 2pm till late Meals + Bar Snacks 7 days Membership draw nights Wed, Fri, Sat. Snooker - Pool - Indoor Bowls - Darts St John Street, OPOTIKI. Phone (07) 315 6174

NGARUAWAHIA RSA (Inc)

4 Market St, P: 07 824 8905, E: ngaruawahiarsa@vodafone.co.nz

Friendly social atmosphere. Entertainment including live music, raffles, quizzes. Children welcome till 9:30pm. Pool, Snooker, Darts, Gaming Machines, Sky TV, Courtesy Van

Bar hours: Tues-Sat 12pm until late Restaurant hours: Tues-Sat 12-2pm & 6pm until late

MT MAUNGANUI

RETURNED & SERVICES ASSOCIATION (INC) 544 Maunganui Road, Mount Maunganui THE NEW GENERATION RSA

Clubrooms open 7 days Mon/Tues 10.00am-9.00pm Wed/Thurs 11.00am-10.00pm Fri/Sat 11.00am-11.00pm Sunday noon-8.00pm

Restaurant open 7 days Lunch: Mon/Fri Noon-1.30pm Dinner: Mon/Sat 6.00-8.00pm Sunday: Carvery 5.30pm-7.30pm

Entertainment every Friday & Saturday night, Sundays from 4.00pm Regular Shows. TAB, 18 Gaming Machines, 3 Eight Ball & 8 Snooker Tables, Sky TV, Big Screens & Data Projector, Courtesy Bus, Friendly Members, Great Staff, Wonderful Food, 12 Beers on tap, Excellent Wines, All This in the best climate in NZ Phone / Fax: 07 575 4477 Web: www.mtrsa.co.nz Email: mtrsa@xtra.co.nz Affiliated Members, Guests and Potential Members Welcome

East coast - hawkes bay wairarapa - taranaki manawatu - wellington

RSA (Inc)

Top restaurant with excellent a la carte meals Open Tuesday to Sunday

Gaming Machines T.A.B. Sky Big screen, EFTPOS Entertainment most Friday and Saturday nights 8-ball, Snooker, Darts, Indoor Bowls Function Hall available for Reunion Meetings etc.

HASTINGS RSA Avenue Road West Ph: 06 878 8808 Fax: 06 878 7642

Ample parking (free) for buses and cars

TAUPO

All The Games You Can Play, TAB & Superscreen TVs/Videos

“The Centre Of it All” * Gaming Machines * Sky Tv * Snooker * 8 Ball * Indoor Bowls

Rendezvous Restaurant Wed, Thur, Fri Lunch 12 - 2pm Mon, Wed, Thur, Fri, Sat Dinner 5 - 8 Closed Tuesday and Sunday

Club Hours Mon- Wed: 11am -10pm.

Thurs- Sat: 11am - Late. Sun: 2 - 8pm Horomatangi Street Phone: 07 378 7476 Please visit our wesite at: www.tauporsa.co.nz

TE TE PUKE PUKE

WHAKATANE RSA (Inc)

Richardson St Ph: 07 307 0343 Fax: 07 307 2604 Email: whakatanersa@xtra.co.nz

16 Oxford Street

Hours: Mon 1pm - 6.30 pm, Tues - Sat 11am - 9pm Restaurant open Thurs, Fri and Sat nights. Tues - Lunch

All RSA members & Visitors are most welcome to our warm & friendly, air conditioned club

Taumarunui & District RSA

10 Marae St, Taumarunui PO Box 24 PH: 07 895 7517 FAX: 07 895 8343 Email: taumrsa@xtra.co.nz

MANAGER: John Callinan MEMBERS: 862 Restaurant open 7 nights from 5:30pm Club open daily from 11:00am Sunday from 1:00pm 18 Gaming Machines, Courtesy Coach Charge back facilities to local motels. If you are coming to Taumarunui we can arrange local tours, golf club bookings, Motel Bookings.

Entertainment Centre of Taumarunui

TE AWAMUTU

District Memorial RSA (Inc) 381 ALEXANDER STREET P. 07 8713707 E. tarsa@xtra.co.nz

Turn into the main street at the traffic filter and look for our Rose Garden at the end of the main shopping area.

Bar Hours - Mon-Thurs: 11am- 9pm Fri: 11-11pm. Sun: 1- 8pm

Restaurant Hours

Mon 12 noon to 1pm, 5pm to 7pm. Wed & Thurs 5pm-7pm, Fri & Sat 5pm to 8.30pm Sun Smorgasboard 5pm to 7pm Groups catered for during week on request

VISITORS WELCOME

Restaurant Hours Lunch and Dinner 7 days Bar Snacks Available Gaming Machines - Big Screens - 8 Ball - Snooker Darts - Indoor Bowls - Line Dancing - Function Room Live Entertainment Friday Nights

A Friendly Welcome in Warm Whakatane

MEMORIAL R.S.A. (Inc.) Ngaio Street Ph: 07 888 7190 Open from Mon- Sat 3pm, Sun 4pm.

Poppyfields Restaurant:

Open for bus tours & private functions by arrangement

TOKAANU-TURANGI & Districts Memorial RSA

Ph: 07 386 8717 PO Box 1 Katopu Place Turangi Email: trgirsa@hotmail.com Bar 7 days from 11am Restaurant Thur - Sat evenings Gaming Machines, Snooker, Pool, Darts, Indoor Bowls, Library, Big Screen Sky TV Turn 3rd right from roundabout

‘ROSE of the WAIKATO’

HAMILTON

Combined Returned Services Club

Rostrevor Street, Po Box 9028 Ph 07 8380131 Fax 07 8340170 Email: hamcrsc@clear.net.nz. Web: www.hamcrsc.co.nz

Open 7 Days Club Restaurant Lunches Tues-Fri Dinner Tues-Sun from 5.30pm. FUNCTION BOOKINGS BY ARRANGEMENT 18 Gaming Machines * TAB * Sky Big Screen * ATM *Eft Pos * 8 Ball * Snooker * Euchre * 500 * Darts * I/D Bowls

Naenae Memorial RSA (Inc) 23, Treadwell St, Ph 04 567 8159, Open 7 Days Indoor Bowls * Darts * Snooker Outdoor Bowls * Pentanque

When visiting Hutt Valley call at our comfortable clubrooms.

A WARM WELCOME AWAITS YOU

Otaki & District Memorial RSA

WHANGAMATA RSA (INC) 324 Port Road, Whangamata Ph/Fax: 07 865 9419 Email: whangamata.rsa@actrix.co.nz Web: www.whangamatarsanz.com

Gateway to the Coromandel Peninsula

9 Raukawa Street Ph: 06 36 46221 Open Tues - Sunday Dining room Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sat & Sun roast lunch TAB - Sky - Snooker - Darts Fridays entertainment Affiliated Members and Guests most welcome

Clubrooms Open: 7 days from 11 am Restaurant Open: 6 days from 11 am Closed Mondays Group Bookings, Bus Tours, etc. by arrangement

Entertainment Big Screen TV’s, Snooker, 8 Ball, Darts, Indoor Bowls, Golf, 12 Gaming Machines

Visitors Most Welcome

ROTORUA RSA (Inc)

Haupapa St, Rotorua

We offer a warm welcome to our thermally heated club. Bar open 7 days.

Restaurant Tues-Fri 12-2pm & Tues-Sat 6-8pm New Café Mon-Fri from 9am-2pm Sky TV, Big Screen TV, Snooker, 8 Ball, Darts Indoor Bowls, Flag 500, Mahjong, Line Dancing, Old Time Dancing, 18 Gaming machines, Live bands

ENJOY OUR COMPANY AND MAKE THE STOP

ACHILLES RESTAURANT Welcome to All. Open for lunch Friday from 12 noon. Dinners Mon, Wed & Thu from 5.30; Fri & Sat from 6.00pm All facilities, Gaming Machines. 110 Amohia Street (Just 50 meters off SH1) Tel: 04 902 7927 www.pramrsa.co.nz

SOUTH TARANAKI RSA (Inc) Bar Hours: Mon, Tues 3-7pm Wed 3-9pm, Thurs 3-7pm. Fri, Sat 3-9pm Clubrooms open some mornings Bistro Meals: Fri. 5-7pm

Princess Street Hawera When in our area you are cordially invited to visit our Clubrooms & enjoy our hospitality. A friendly welcome is assured to all.

Registered Military Museum

Rotorua RSA

1072 Haupapa St, Rotorua Phone/Fax: 348 1056 Email: rotrsa@xtra.co.nz www.rotrsa.co.nz

Come and visit our friendly Club the

MATAMATA

GalLipoli Restaurant Ph: 06 876 4739 Open everyday great value meals

Open 7 Days ---- Bar Hours Mon-Thurs 10am-10pm.Fri & Sat 10am till late. Sun 10.30-8pm

Close to motels in the heart of town

MEMORIAL MEMORIAL RSA RSA (Inc) (Inc) Ph: 07 573 7922

Sat: 11-10pm

Open seven Days

RSA TAURANGA 1237 Cameron Road, Greerton, Tauranga

Ph 07 578 9654 Fax 07 577 0715 E: admin@tgarsa.co.nz | www.tgarsa.co.nz

Big Screen TV’s, Snooker, Pool, Darts, Indoor Bowl, Cards, 18 Gaming Machines, Live Bands Bar Hours - Open 7 Days - From 11.00am

WANGANUI Great Entertainment...

S BER MEM ME W E N CO WEL

Live Bands 18 Gaming Machines TAB Terminal Big Screen TVs' 8 Ball * Darts * Bowls Euchre * Housie Raffles * Members' Jackpots

Gallipoli Restaurant

Lunch Tuesday to Saturday from 11.30am Dinner Monday & Wednesday to Saturday from 5.30pm Tuesday Pension Day Special - Lunches Whiteboard Dinner Specials

… MEMBERS AND BONA FIDE GUESTS WELCOME ... 170 St Hill Street, Wanganui Phone: Clubrooms 345 5750 * Restaurant 345 4140 *

Courtesy Bus 027 345 5750

Email: admin@wanganuirsa.co.nz * Website: www.wanganuirsa.co.nz

Oaktree Restaurant

Open 7 Days from Breakfast - 7.00am - Lunch - 12.00 noon Dinner - 5.00pm “When in the Bay stay with us” Motor Inn accommodation available Excellent Rates “Visitors Welcome Anytime”

ANY CHANGES TO CLUB ADVERTS OR CLASSIFIED ADVERTS PLEASE CONTACT DAVE McKEE Ph: 03 983 5518 Fax: 03 983 5552 Email:davem@waterfordpress.co.nz


27

RSA REVIEW • SUMMER 2013

Local RSAs NAPIER RSA 34 Vautier Street, Napier

TARADALE

Office: 06 835 7629 Fax: 06 835 1357 Club: 06 835 1034

A warm, sunshine welcome is extended to all visitors to our modern, comfortable clubrooms

156 Gloucester Street Ph/Fax 06 844 4808

OPEN 7 DAYS PER WEEK Restaurant Open:Lunch: Mon- Sat. Dinner:Mon-Sun

Top meals at reasonable prices

• Live entertainment Fri & Sat nights • Parking • Conference room • Taxi chits available for discounted fares

Membership still open. Affiliated members Welcome

Conveniently located to Marine Parade, motels and city centre THERE ARE NO STRANGERS AMONG US, ONLY FRIENDS WE HAVE NOT MET.

& Districts RSA Inc

OPEN 7 DAYS CLUB HOURS

Mon: 2pm–7pm Tues: Midday-7pm Wed: 11am–9.30pm Thur: 11am-10.00pm Fri/Sat: 11am till late Sun 12am–7pm

FEATURES Pool, Darts, Big Screen, EFTPOS, Courtesy

Coach,Off Sales, Gaming, SKY TV, Live Entertainment, Karaoke, Jukebox, Air conditioning - Conference room for hire, Power plugs for motorhomes Restaurant available Thur – Sat for Lunch & Dinner ALL RSA & CHARTERED CLUB MEMBERS WELCOME

Meals Available 7 days - Lunch & Dinner

All Indoor Sports available. Gaming Machines Live Music Every Alternative Saturday nights. Wheelchair available

Sat-Sun 10.30 am

When in Napier or Hastings visit us, we are only 8 minutes from either city. Motel accommodation next door with discounts available

All Visitors Assured of a Warm & Sincere Welcome

LEVIN RSA

Open for ALl generations Club open:

Mon to Thur and Sat: 10.30am -10pm Fri: 10.30am - 11.00pm Sun: 10.30am - 6.00pm

Poppies Restaurant:

Lunch: Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11.30am Friday and Saturday Buffet Dinner from 5.30pm

Features: *ATM * Eft-pos * Modern dual Jackpot 18 Gaming Machines * 8-Ball * Snooker * Darts * Sky TV * Library * Live Entertainment FUNCTION FACILITIES AVAILABLE FOR HIRE

RSA - That’s the Spirit

32 Bristol Street, Levin (next to KFC) P: 368 3475 E: rsalevin@paradise.net.nz www.levinrsa.org.nz

Milton Bruce RSA 31 Union Street, Milton Ph: 03 417 8927

89 Oxford St. Ph: 232 5788

A warm welcome is extended to all RSA & Chartered Club visitors We are open: Pool Wed to Sun from 4pm Darts Meals Friday 6.00 - 8.00pm Sunday Roast the last Sunday of Sky TV each month 6.00pm-8pm

Open daily from 5.00pm *All Welcome*

marlborough - nelson west coast canterbury otago - southland

5 -7 McKillop St, Tel: 04 237 7695 Fax 04 238 2343 OPEN SEVEN DAYS * Sky Tv * TAB * Gaming Room * Pool * Darts * Indoor Bowls * EFTPOS * Wine Club * Kapa Haka BAR HOURS Mon 11am - 7pm. Tues 11am - 7pm. Wed 11am - 8pm. Thurs 11am - 11pm. Fri 11am - 12pm. Sat 10am - 12pm. Sun 10am - 9pm

RESTAURANT HOURS

Paparua Templeton RSA 38 Kirk Rd, Templeton

CLUB BAR HOURS

Wed 1pm - 7pm, Thurs 4pm - 7pm, Fri 4pm till late, Sat 4pm til late

MEALS

Last Thurs of month Fri from 5.30pm, Sat from 5.30pm

NEW MEMBERS WELCOME

RANGIORA RSA CLUB (Inc) 82 Victoria Street Ph: 03 313 7123

Lower Hutt Memorial www.lowerhuttrsa.org.nz

Restaurant: Lunch Wed, Thurs, Fri. Dinner Thurs, Fri, Sat & Sun. Courtesy Van Available Thurs, Fri, & Sat nights

A warm welcome is extended to all RSA members, families and friends

Kensington Restaurant Open Upstairs Wednesday - Sunday from 5:30pm

Live Band Friday and Saturday 8.00pm and Sundays 3.00pm 3 Bars, Garden Bar, Large TV Screens, Sky Sport, TAB, Internet, Library, Gaming Room, Conference Facilities.

47 Udy Street, Petone. Ph 568 5404 Members, Guests and Affiliated members welcome

BULLS

SH1 Bulls Ph 06 322 0875

Hours Mon, Tues & Sun:11am -8pm Wed -Sat:11am -10pm When passing through Bulls call at our clubrooms, enjoy our hospitality and have a friendly chat.

Visitors Made Welcome

GREYMOUTH RSA CLUB 181 Tainui Street Facilities include a family bar, pool table, dart boards & gaming machines. Housie is played every Monday at 7.30pm. Raffles Tuesday & Friday. We extend to all members a cordial invitation to visit our clubrooms situated on the main highway 5 minutes from the town centre and motels. HOURS: Mon - Sun open from 12pm. Lunch time Courtesy Coach Available Fridays

Call and make some West Coast friends

TIMARU

Memorial RSA Inc

12 Civic Ave Ph: 03 208 6218 Fax: 03 208 6220 Email: GoreRSA@xtra.co.nz Clubrooms Open 10.30 am 7 days a week Bar Hours Mon - Fri 10.30 am - 11 pm Sat 10.30 am - 1 am Sun 10.30 am - 9.30 pm Family Bar The Gore RSA Bistro Wed - Fri 12-2 pm. Tues - Sun 5.30 pm - 8 pm Private functions by arrangement * 5 F/size Snooker Tables * 18 Gaming Machines * Big Screen Sky TV * TAB Live entertainment each month. Tea coffee in our smoke free lounge. Off street parking for visitors. Raffles: Thurs & Fri. Flag 500 Wed 7 pm during winter

RIVERTON & DISTRICTS 141 Palmerston Street Riverton 9822 Phone: (03) 2348737 Enjoy Southern Hospitality Tue-Sat 3-6pm & Fri 3-9pm

Any changes to Club Adverts or Classified Adverts PLEASE CONTACT

DAVE McKEE Ph: 03 983 5518 | Fax: 03 983 5552 E: davem@waterfordpress.co.nz

21 Waiti Rd Timaru Ph: 03 688 4123

Hours: Tues - Thurs 11am -10pm. Fri 11am - Late. Sat 3pm - Late. Sun 11am - 6pm. Meals: Lunch Tues - Fri & Sun 12 - 1.30pm. Dinner Fri, Sat 6pm to 8pm Sunday Brunch 10am-12 noon Gaming Machines

8 ball and snooker tables, ATM, Sky TV, Big Screens and Data projector, great beers and an excellent selection of wine. Raffles Tues, Friday & Sat nights.

Music Every Saturday Rock N Roll Friday Nights

inVeRCaRgiLL WoRKingMen’s CLuB inC. Incorporating the inVeRCaRgiLL R.s.a. 154 Esk Street, Invercargill Ph. 03 218 8693 Fax 03 218 3011 e-mail office@iwmc.co.nz Hours Mon - Wed. 11.00am - 10.00pm Thurs. 11.00am - 11.00pm Fri. 11.00am - 12 midnight Sat. 10.00am - 1.30am Sun. 12.00noon - 9.00pm Bottle Store Corinthian Restaurant open for lunch Mon - Fri 12noon - 1.30pm Dinner Thurs. - Sun. from 6.00pm Corinthian Convention Centre available for meetings, conferences or functions, large or small 24 Gaming machines - 5 snooker tables Sky TV 5 pool tables Raffles Mon. - Sat. Band on Sat. nights Off-street parking

PAPANUI RSA

CLUB night every FRIDAY 4.30 - 6.30pm in the ANZAC Lounge

Bistro Open 7 Days A Week Lunch 11.30 - 2.00pm Dinner 5:00 - 9.00pm

Ashburton Where the North meets the South

Gore District

NELSON RSA (Inc)

168 Tahunanui Drive, Nelson. Phone 03 548 6815.

Open from 11.00 am Monday – Saturday; 11.30 am Sunday Tribute: 6.00 pm Wednesdays Lunch 11.00 am – 2.00 pm; Dinner 5.30 – 8.30 pm

ALL VISITORS WELCOME

VISITORS WELCOME

Thurs, Fri & Sat. Dinners 5.30 - 9.30pm

NEW, RETURNED & SERVICE MEMBERS MOST WELCOME

Hours Mon - Tues: 11am-7pm. Wed Thurs Fri: 11am-10pm. Sat: 11am-12pm. Sun: 11am- 5pm Tues+Wed Lunch noon. Bistro Thurs, Fri, Sat 5.30-8pm

TAWA RSA

PORIRUA RSA (Inc)

12 Cox Street

Clubrooms Open Mon-Fri 8.30 am

FOXTON RSA INC. 1 Easton Street. Ph: 06 363 7670 Fax: 06 363 6838 Email: foxtonrsa@xtra.co.nz www.foxtonrsa.co.nz

ASHBURTON RSA [INC]

Ph: 03 352 9770 55 Bellvue Ave Papanui Rd & 1 Harewood Rd

Access also from

Visiting Christchurch

Try our hospitality in the heart of Papanui. Adjacent to major civic amenities incl. shopping mall,motels & hotels

Club Hours

Mon -Tues: 11am -9pm. Wed-Thurs: 11am-10pm. Fri- Sat: 11am- 11pm. Sun: 11am- 8pm

Bistro Meals

Lunch: 7 days 12 - 2 pm Dinner: 7 days 5pm onwards

Facilities

Eftpos, Sky TV, Snooker Billiards, Pool, Bowls, Cards, Darts, Gaming Machines, Library, Live Entertainment, Off Street Parking. Power Point for Campervans

Welcome

Chartered Club 66 Wellington St

Picton

RSA & Club

Full Trading Hours. Pool & Snooker Tables. Games Machines. Bistro Meals: Open 7 Days

Everybody Welcome

Marlborough RSA 42 Alfred Street Blenheim (In Clubs Marlborough Complex)

We extend a cordial invitation to all visiting members to visit our Clubrooms Open 7 Days from 9.00, Restaurant meals - 7 Days. Gaming, Pool, Snooker, Sky TV.

RICHMOND/WAIMEA R.S.A. INC. P.0. Box 3034 Richmond 7050.

CHARTERED CLUB

35 Centennial Ave. Alexandra

Alexandra Clyde RSA

Operating from Club Waimea Premises Lower Queen Street, Richmond. Phone 03 543 9179. Open from 11.00am till late. Club Waimea facilities including Caravan Park facilities which are available to all R.S.A. Members. Meals are available Wednesday - Sunday 11.30am Onwards

PO Box 10 Ph: 03 448 8090 Fax: 03 448 8023 Bar Hours Mon-Sat: 11am-Late Sun: 4.30 9pm Bistro Hours Thurs: 6.30-8.30pm. Fri: 6-9pm Sun: 6-8pm Snack Bar open all hours

Catering a Specialty Gaming Machines, Sky Tv,Snooker, Pool Darts,Bowls

Visitors Welcome

motueka

memorial rsa (inc) 49 High Street

www.motuekarsa.co.nz

Open 7 Days Mon-Fri 4pm. Sat 11am. Sun 2pm Restaurant & Dining Room Tues, Thurs - Sun

5.30pm - 8.30pm. Fri & Sat Lunch: 12 noon - 1.00 pm rsa - clubs nz members most welcome


28

RSA REVIEW • SUMMER 2013

Travel Australia GOLD COAST

SYDNEY

Anyone for a Gold Coast Getaway??

FREE High Speed

Welcome to Palazzo Colonnades boutique, high-rise holiday accommodation apartments in Surfers Paradise....

271 Elizabeth Street, Sydney + 61 2 9264 6001

DIRECT BOOKING ONLINE NOW AVAILABLE

• Fully self contained, air conditioned one bedroom and two bedroom apartments

Visit: www.hydeparkinn.com.au

• Swimming pool, spa, sauna, gymnasium and BBQ facilities

HOT DEAL!

• Under cover, fully secured free parking

Stay 5 Pay 4 from AUS $608.00*

• Flat screen televisions and AUSTAR cable television free of charge • In room wireless internet broadband service • Extensive choice of restaurants within minutes walking distance

TO BOOK PHONE +61 7 5538 4555

• 1.5km from Gold Coast Exhibition and Convention Centre • 150 metres to the beach and 6-8 minutes leisurely stroll to Cavill Avenue

Address: 2988 - 2994 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise. 4217 Telephone: +61 7 5538 4555 Email: info@palazzocolonnades.com.au

FOR THE BEST RATES BOOK DIRECT AT OUR NEW WEBSITE: www.palazzocolonnades.com.au * Valid for sale until 28/03/14. Block out dates apply.

1 & 2 bedroom apartments and 3 bedroom sub-penthouses. All fully self-contained apartments with private spa baths. Expansive sea views opposite patrolled beach. Resort facilities – indoor heated pool, steam room, outdoor pool, tennis court, gym, games room. Fabulous heated indoor pool renovations now completed, perfect for winter months. Call or email for specials. 238 The Esplanade Burleigh Heads QLD 4220 Ph. 00 617 5535 8866 Fax. 00 617 5535 8523 Email. mail@burleighsurf.com.au

SUNSHINE COAST Queensland

Self contained 2 & 3 bedroom apartments Close to Mooloolaba Beach & Bowls Club Heated Pool & tropical gardens Free Wifi - Secure Parking

w w w.burleighsur f.com.au

Surfers Paradise

Book direct and get great deals from friendly kiwis, Ph: 00617 5526 7588, Or email: info@emeraldsands.com.au Or visit: www.emeraldsands.com.au

Stay 7 pay for 5 - May, June, July & Nov Cnr Foote & Burnett Sts, Mooloolaba www.docksidemooloolaba.com.au info@docksidemooloolaba.com.au

Tel: +61754782044 or NZ Freephone 0800 000 417

PLEASE CONTACT -

• Ocean Views from all Apartments • 2 Bedroom / 2 bathroom air conditioned • Heated lap pool & spa • Lift access to all 10 floors • Secure U/C Parking • Central to cafes, restaurants, shops, bars & clubs • TV / DVD FREE Austar • 2 Rooftop apartments (Private BBQ) - One with spa

DAVE McKEE

SPECIAL DISCOUNT IF YOU MENTION THIS ADVERT

Any changes to Club Adverts or Classified Adverts

Ph: 03 983 5518 Fax: 03 983 5552 E: davem@waterfordpress.co.nz

Our features include: • Self catering facilities • Complimentary continental breakfast • Air-conditioning • Balcony to Deluxe Rooms • Large family rooms and apartments • Free car parking • Free in-house movie channels • Guest laundry • DVD players to all rooms • Flat Screen LCD televisions

Owned by RSL NSW Branch • Special rates for RSA Members • Special long term rates available Eligible RSA members can join a NSW RSL Sub Branch for even better rates.

Travel New Zealand

MAY/JUNE Special "stay 7 pay only for 5 nights" in a 2 bedroom STD Apartment valid 1st May - 26th May only

Fully self contained boutique apartments - 4 star self rating, all with lift access, airconditioning & ocean views. Direct access to beach 50 meters. Heated pool and spa, BBQ area. Transport arranged from Brisbane or Coolangatta Airports. Easy walk to heart of Surfers or Broadbeach

Dockside Mooloolaba

The Hyde Park Inn offers friendly, personalised service and spectacular views across Hyde Park. Central CBD location, just minutes to shopping, theatres, Central Station, The Opera House, Darling Harbour and Kings Cross.

MALIBU MOOLOOLABA

81 The Esplanade Mooloolaba 4557 Ph: 00617 5444 1133 Fax: 00617 5444 1280 E: info@mailibu.com.au www.malibu.com.au

ACAPULCO MOTOR INN TAUPO

Welcomes RSA members Off season discounts may apply 20 ground floor units 10% Discount to all members 19 Rifle Range Road www.acapulcotaupo.co.nz

Special Package Deal* Offer includes: Accommodation plus Breakfast & Dinner Buffet

Ph: 07 578 9654 Single: $130 Double $165 Scan for more info >>

Phone 0800 378 7174

HAMILTON Gardena Court Motel. We are close to all

clubs, amenities, RSA members special from $99 single/Dble includes continental breakfast for 2 each morning subject to availability. We Guarantee value for money. Hosts: Alan & Dale Padgett. 257 Ulster St. Ph 07 838 1769. Email: stay@gardena.co.nz. Web: www.gardena.co.nz Reservations: 0800 STAY GARDENA (0800 782 942)

NAPIER. Colonial Lodge Motel. Next door to Taradale RSA. 17 g/f fully s/c units serviced daily. Sky digital, heated swimming & private spa pools, games room, bbq, large garden grounds. Qualmark 4 Star Plus.Tariff $110 - $150 for 1-2 persons. RSA member discount. Reservations 0800 68 44 77. Ph/Fax 06 844 7788. Your hosts Sarah & Mark Johnson. stay@colonialmotel.co.nz www.colonialmotel.co.nz

RUSSELL. F/furn 2 bdrm apartment. Sleeps 4 available all year. 2 adults $400 p week or $80 p night, $15 pn extra person. Ph: 09 426 9747 Fax: 09 426 9780 Email: donandmyra@xtra.co.nz

1237 Cameron Rd,Greerton, Tauranga Email: admin@tgarsa.co.nz www.greertonmotorinn.co.nz/rr

WANGANUI. Bignell St Motel, Quiet Warm Friendly, Comfortable, Pets by arrangement $65 single + $15pp extra. Phone Now 0800 244 635

WELLINGTON Harbour City Motor Inn Cnr Victoria & Webb Str 0800 33 24 68 e: harbourcitymotorinn@ xtra.co.nz, www.harbourcitymotorinn.co.nz. Located in central city with studios, one bedroom unit and 3-bedroom apartment. Close to airport & ferry. Special RSA rates. Host Dolly.

WHAKATANE Bay Hotel Units 90 McAllister Street. Very handy to RSA. Discount for RSA members. Friendly service, courtesy pickup, Pets very welcome. Your hosts Betty & Willy Arends. Ph 07 308 6788 Fax 07 308 6749


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RSA REVIEW • SUMMER 2013

Medals English Tie & Medal Co *Replica medals and Miniatures supplied and mounted. *Full sized and Mini medal groups for other family members. *Framed Medal Displays and Copy displays. *Regimental Ties & Blazer pocket badges. We do not deal or trade original medals

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Court or Swing Style, Full Size & Miniature medals,Ribbon Bars, Extra sets of medals for family, Framed Family Groups. Supplier of replica WW2 wings and brevet. 27 Years Experience. Contact: Tony Prowse, 6 Chilton Dr, Paraparaumu, Kapiti Coast Ph. 04 2973232. Email: tsprowse@xtra.co.nz

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P. 09 838 4828 F. 09 838 4850 W. www.medals.co.nz 6 Central Park Drive, Henderson, Auckland 0610

MEDALS MOUNTED Court or Swing style. Professional quality guaranteed work. Reasonable prices. Medals also framed for family history displays, museum quality work. Medals & military souvenirs purchased for my own collection especially gallantry awards eg. DFC, MC, MM etc. German & Allied hats, helmets uniforms, RNZAF RAF pilots wings & boots also sought. Ph: Ian Hamilton 09 266 5783

Any changes to Club Adverts or Classified Adverts

A G Bairstow NZ Medals Ltd

PO Box 128-134, Remuera, Auckland 1541 Ph : 09 571 2074 aubreyb@clear.net.nz

PLEASE CONTACT

DAVE McKEE MEDAL MOUNTING, MILITARY HISTORY & GENEALOGY RESEARCH. Orders, decorations & medals (full size & miniatures) court mounted for day, evening wear, and for family history displays. Medals mounted with respect for over 40 years with no modifications to medals or clasps. Contact Medal Mounting Wellington, H.E. Chamberlain, Ph: 04 293 3504. 470 Te Moana Rd. Waikanae. Email: clas.chamberlain@xtra.co.nz.

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Medals professionally mounted court or swing style. $20 per medal. Courier return $8.00 . No hidden costs. Damage free mounting. New ribbon. Fully insured. Medal cases, replicas and miniatures stocked. Free NZDSM or NZOSM lapel pin with each mounting order. NZ wide mail order service or by appointment. Turnaround is usually 7 days.

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ALSO BUYING MEDALS, DIARIES AND MILITARY ITEMS

Fax: 03 983 5552 E: davem@waterfordpress.co.nz

Tours AMTRAK TRAIN TOUR OF AMERICA 35 DAYS – 3RD TO 7TH JULY 2014

LOS ANGELES – SAN FRANCISCO – CHICAGO – NIAGARA FALLS – NEW YORK – WASHINGTON DC – NEW ORLEANS –ANAHEIM This is the 18th Amtrak train tour our tour directors have escorted - they know their way around the USA.

Includes

5 days in

NEW YORK

Enjoy the leisure and comradeship as you travel on AMTRAK train over 5200 miles through 19 states to view a land of amazing contrasts. From the spectacular Pacific Coast journey, to the Rocky Mountains crossing to 9000 feet to Chicago, along the tree lined Hudson River to New York, and through the sleepy towns of the deep south to New Orleans - this is the way to fully appreciate the vastness of the USA. In San Francisco we will cross the renowned Golden Gate Bridge, see the architectural delights of old and new Chicago and in New York the iconic Times Square, Empire State Building and Statue of Liberty. In Washington DC, we will see the White House, visit the Arlington National Cemetery and George Washington’s farm in Virginia. New Orleans will blow you away with its fabulous jazz and creole food, and the theme parks in Anaheim are always star attractions. We will join in the famous July 4th Independence Day celebrations with a massive fireworks display at Huntington Beach.

Freephone 0800 900 747

FULLY ESCORTED TOURS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS

Brochure for 2014 now available! Our 2014 programme includes: NEW ZEALAND: Perusing the Pacific Coast, Great Barrier Island, Winterless North, Top of the South, South of the South, Chatham Islands, High Country Spectacular, Taranaki Rhododendron Festival, Wonders of Westland, Kapiti Island & South Coast, Masterton for Christmas AUSTRALIA: Touring Tasmania, Brisbane to Cairns, Gulf to the Outback, Melbourne Adelaide & the Murray River, Sunshine Coast Stay Put

PACIFIC: Rarotonga, Niue, Norfolk Island

For a free colour brochure contact Scottsdale Tours FREE phone 0800 66 44 14 • info@scottsdaletours.co.nz www.scottsdaletours.co.nz

VIETNAM TOURS 20 Days ex Auck, Wgtn, Chch. From $6495 pp share twin. Special conditions apply. Kiwi Vietnam Tours PO Box 123 Rongotea Ph 06 324 8444, info@kiwivietnamtours.co.nz www.kiwivietnamtours.co.nz

Any changes to Club Adverts or Classified Adverts

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DAVE McKEE Ph: 03 983 5518 | Fax: 03 983 5552 E: davem@waterfordpress.co.nz

Read More Online VISIT OUR WEBSITE

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30

RSA REVIEW • SUMMER 2013

What’s New

Malvina sings vera on cruise Sue Russell

Roy Ferguson a former NZ ambassador to the United States, is a tour host and security adviser for the 100th commemorations at Gallipoli in 2015.

Ex-diplomat to host Roy Ferguson, recently retired from a diplomatic career of 40-plus years, will be an Innovative Travel Ltd tour host and security adviser for the 100th commemorations at Gallipoli in 2015. Ferguson, who was New Zealand’s ambassador to the United States from 2006–10 and to South Korea from 1999-2002, says his “enormous passion” for New Zealand military history dates back to his student days of studying history. It has been enriched by the opportunity to see many places where New Zealanders served. His grandfathers fought in the South African War and World War 1, and his father was in the Pacific and in Italy in World War 2. Roy accompanied him on a return to Italy in 1995. He spoke at Anzac Day services in the Republic of Korea and on several occasions in the US at the National Cathedral in Washington, where he also established links with the Ataturk Society. • Tour details: Freephone 0508 100111; email tours@innovativetravel.co.nz.

Aussies march to Kiwi beat The Aussies are keen to sing to the Kiwi tune. RPP Community Radio, based on the Mornington Peninsula, near Melbourne in Victoria, is exploring the idea of an audio project for the World War 1 centenary. Project co-ordinator Brodie Goozee says a number of Australian tracks are under consideration, but it would be a great shame not to have New Zealand representation, particularly Maori songs, poems and ditties, songs unique to the period and to New Zealand. • Send information to: Brodie Goozee, RPPFM Volunteer Group – bgoozee@gmail.com; RPPFM. com.au.

Chatham Islands

Come the 2015 centenary celebrations of the Allies’ landing on Gallipoli, and the famous World War 2 songs of Vera Lynn will resound across the water of the Mediterranean and the Dardenelles. The songstress, however, will not be Dame Vera Lynn, but Kiwi opera singer Dame Malvina Major. And the venue will not be a famous concert hall, but a concert on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean. It’ll be a first for Major, and she says she’s very much looking forward to it. “Dame Vera’s voice reminds me of my sister, Betty, who taught me to sing when I was very young. Betty had a similar quality though not quite as strong.” There have been connections between the two dames. Malvina remembers singing at London’s Sothebey auction house at a benefit concert for Vera’s own charity for crippled children. There was also the time the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra asked Malvina to perform in a Three Dames concert. Vera was to be one of the performers, but decided not to make the journey to New Zealand even though her husband, Harry Lewis, encouraged her to do so. When Christchurch-based Innovative Travel Ltd approached Malvina about singing a selection of Vera Lynn songs on the cruise, Malvina wrote to Vera before she accepted. “Her attitude was very much, ‘Yes, yes, by all means. It’s just nice that the songs will be sung at this special time, which was lovely for me.” Malvina Major has selected nine songs, straddling a wide variety of the styles Vera Lynn sang. The cruise is still some way away, and just how many performances she will do is yet to be sorted. Getting the songs into the right key range for her is the first task at hand. That, along with choosing some very ‘Kiwi’ songs to include, is

All inclusive package. Departs Auckland 20th Feb 2014

providing her with plenty to prepare and look forward to. The nine-day (April 18-26) Anzac Gallipoli Epic Cruise, planned and put together by Innovative Travel Co Ltd, will begin and end in Istanbul. It will follow the voyage of the Anzac troops from the Greek Island of Lemnos to Anzac Cove, and explore the key Gallipoli sites. Those successful in the ballot will be transported to Anzac Cove, and a dawn service will be held on board on Anzac Day,

Funds short for some of WW1 centenary history The big World War 1 centenary challenge for New Zealand is to move beyond remembrance and to create an enduring educational legacy as well, says historian Glyn Harper. Harper, professor of war studies at Massey University, is the Massey project manager for the Centenary History Programme, which will officially document, for the first time, New Zealand’s involvement World War 1. The New Zealand Defence Force, Massey University, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, and the RNZRSA have joined forces to produce a series of accessible print histories intended to stand as the definitive history of New Zealand’s experience during one of the deadliest conflicts

Stewart Island & The Catlins

Discover the history, culture and heritage of these unique islands on this escorted adventure. Explore the rugged landscape from ocean beaches and rocky coastlines to the diverse flora and fauna. Staying at the secluded Henga Lodge with wonderful vistas over the farm, lake and Henga Reserve, guests are treated to warm hospitality, peace, tranquillity, and an authentic cultural experience.

Dame Malvina Major sings songs from the Vera Lynn songbook on a nine-day Gallipoli cruise in 2015.

The cruise will be a new experience for Malvina Major ... a chance to just enjoy her singing. Her grandfather, McCaw, fought in World War 1 and, although she was only four or five years old when he died, she remembers he came back from the war in a terrible state. While no-one in her family fought in World War 2, she has toured parts of Italy and was taken to see the graves of New Zealand and Australian soldiers who fought there. “Row after row of those killed fighting to preserve the freedom we enjoy these days. It was very moving.” She has been surrounded by music all her life, giving her first public performance at two with her very musical family – by 2015 seven decades will have passed since that debut. Her days of extended major tours, operas and concerts on the world stage are in the past now, but she has plenty here to keep her busy. She is a senior fellow in music at the University of Waikato, teaching voice and performance to doctoral students and the like. She and chancellor Jim Bolger are also promotions ambassadors for the university. She has helped raise vast sums of money to advance the cause of music and young performers, and will be putting similar energy into raising money for the university’s Centre for Performing Arts. “We are aiming to have a symphony concert hall plus much needed teaching space. This was always the plan when we raised money to build the centre.” She feels the tremendous importance of music during the war years stems from its capacity to heal: “Music is very healing. I have been told this many, many times and I’ve seen it work in uplifting ways.” Just ahead in the New Year, she will perform on her Diamond Jubilee Celebration Tour with New Zealand musicians, including Hogsnort Rupert and the Hamilton County Bluegrass Band.

Explore the diversity of the wild south with its rugged & wind swept coastlines of the Catlins to the pristine beauty of Stewart Island. See wildlife abundant in their natural environment including penguins, seals and albatross. 9 day coach tour enjoys 2 nights in the Catlins region and 3 nights on Stewart Island. Includes return flights to Stewart Island, Ulva Island and Paterson Inlet, Dunedin’s Otago Peninsula & Invercargill.

East Cape & Pacific Coast Get off the beaten track and discover the East Cape and Pacific Coast Highway with its rocky coastlines & sandy beaches. Stay at Hicks Bay & see the lighthouse on NZ’s most easterly point. Enjoy a guided tour at Eastwoodhill Arboretum, Art Deco Tour in Napier and Gannet Beach Adventure to Cape Kiddnappers. 8 day tour includes 2 nights in Gisborne & 3 nights in Napier. Departs Auckland March/April 2014

Departs 13th March 2014

Tours are escorted, include flights (where applicable) and home pick up in main centres - conditions apply.

Phone Shavourn for further information.

Twilight Travel & Tours 0800 999 887

IATA Accredited and TAANZ Bonded - A member of the Travel Managers Group

www.twilighttravel.co.nz

in history. Each volume will be themed to deal with a different aspect. The NZDF, Massey and the ministry, along with the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board, have provided funds and resources to the programme, and many individuals and clubs have donated. The Government has provided funding to support some remembrance activities, including improvement of New Zealand-related information along Gallipoli and Western Front heritage trails, an upgrade of the Auckland War Memorial Museum’s Cenotaph database, and the construction of the National War Memorial Park. But some of the planned volumes remain unfunded – and at risk of being excluded from the series. The programme will include up to 13 printed books, on-line and interactive resources, and an international conference. It will cover the major campaigns in Europe and the Middle East, New Zealanders’ contributions in the air and at sea, the experiences of soldiers at the front and civilians at home, the Maori war effort, medical services, and the war’s impact and legacy. One of the first volumes in the series was launched by in November, and subsequent volumes follow through to 2019. The group working on the early volumes also includes NZDF senior historian John Crawford, Ian McGibbon and Monty Soutar. Centenary History Programmes committee co-chair Gerald Hensley, a former secretary of defence, says history helps us know who we are, and, so, is important to remember. “The tragedy of World War 1 is the single most important event that shaped us as a nation, and

Anzac soldiers in a trench on Gallipoli.

we need to remind ourselves through accurate and readable histories of what our country and people went through.” New Zealand has no official history of its involvement in World War 1. By comparison, a 12-volume Australian official history was produced between 1921 and 1943, and New Zealand has an official World War 2 history series which of 48 volumes and studies. The World War 1 centenary provides an opportunity to close serious gaps in the New Zealand historiography which are most unlikely to be published otherwise, says Harper. “This was a conflict that shaped the modern world, and New Zealand must play its part in commemorating it.” Exhibitions are planned at museums and universities, and two major international conferences are planned (in August 2014 and April 2017). Information on the project, donations and contributions: Maree Hoare – Massey University Foundation; 04 8015799 ext 62151; m.hoare@ massey.ac.nz.


What’s New 31

RSA REVIEW • SUMMER 2013

The war in words

Historian Dr Stephen Clarke reviews the first two offerings under New Zealand’s First World War Centenary History Programme.

New Zealand and the First World War 19141919, by Damien Fenton (with Caroline Lord, Gavin McLean and Tim Shoebridge). Published by Penguin. RRP $75. The White Ships: New Zealand’s First World War Hospital Ships, by Gavin McLean. Published by New Zealand Ship & Marine Society. RRP $60. In the immediate aftermath of what was then known as the Great War, just four books comprised the semi-official response to New Zealand’s involvement (volumes on Gallipoli, France, the Middle East and the War Effort). Then followed a “Great Silence” – part of the collective response to the unspeakable acts of the war and its social impact on a small nation. Nearly 100 years on, two new books are the first of a dozen proposed works to redress this silence and repay a debt, under the banner of the First World War Centenary History Programme (a partnership between the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, The New Zealand Defence Force, Massey University and the RNZRSA, with support from New Zealand Lotteries). In his introduction to New Zealand and the First World War 1914-1919 author Damien Fenton

warns that we must resist the temptation to view the events between 1914 and 1919 through the lens of later decades, and even our own perspective “of a more independent but in some ways more insular view of ourselves and our history”, to truly understand why New Zealand was so committed to World War 1. His aim is to avoid such anachronisms in the hope of a more mature and balanced account, including acknowledging the triumphs, not least that we won the war, as well as the tragedies. “The generation of New Zealanders that bore the burden of that terrible conflict deserves no less from us”. Sage advice for the coming centenary period so that we can commemorate with understanding. In what is rightly billed as “a lavish, landmark production” Fenton and the teams at the Ministry for Culture and Heritage and Penguin have succeeded in dynamically illustrating 50 key episodes of our wartime experience. From pre-war preparations and the outbreak

of war in 1914 through to the peace treaties of 1919 and the massive task of repatriation, rehabilitation and remembrance. In between there is a chronological coverage of the known battles, such as Gallipoli, the Somme, and Ypres as well as the not so well-known battles of the Middle East campaign and the victories on the Western Front in 1918, together with the forgotten New Zealand contribution to the war in the air and on the sea. And interspersed are the lesser-known subjects: training, life on the home front, the war economy, conscription and anti-conscription, the war effort of Maori and Pacific, behind the lines for the NZEF, crime and punishment, women at war, and plenty more. What makes this publication special is the well-researched, concise and self-contained stories that each double-page plate tells, and brought to life through a treasure-trove of war ephemera. In a first for New Zealand and based on the successful format developed by the Imperial War Museum, an array of facsimile maps, tickets, posters, booklets, letters and postcards is deployed and found in pockets and pull-outs (or “enclosures” in publishing-speak). With 30 enclosures and 500 images (10-15 for each plate), it is not only the sheer number but the careful selection of never-before-seen material, including items from private collections, which together with the high quality of the reproductions, makes for compelling reading. Each reader will have his/her favourites, but for me they included: a fold-out panoramic photograph of the convoy carrying the Main Body of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force departing Wellington in October 1914; a telegram from the Minister of Defence advising the mother of Pte Henry Gill, 2nd Canterbury Battalion, that her son was “dangerously ill” after being wounded on August 26, 1918 and with “hopes for a speedy recovery” (he died a week later); and the roll of honour for the Gallipoli Association’s 60th jubilee reunion in 1975. Overall, the experience is akin to a museum or on-line exhibition, revealing that books can still engage through what is an incredibly tactile

BOOK RELEASE This is the first of three volumes, which focuses on the Italian campaign, and is based on personal, previously unpublished diaries from members of No. 1 Troop and B Squadron, and covers the departure of the 9th Reinforcements from New Zealand and their experiences in Italy until the war’s end. The book will include over 180 large format photographs from private and museum collections, the majority of which are previously unpublished, and all will have detailed Captions. Also included in the 205 pages will be seven, coloured, A4-sized maps, coloured vehicle illustrations and associated data, unit formations and war establishments. These personal accounts, photographs and maps will illustrate aspects of the specific war that the Divisional Cavalry fought. Sometimes the weather conditions were extreme and threw up more obstacles than the enemy, and at other times boredom was the biggest problem of all. And, like all soldiers, these men feared dying, mourned lost mates, and dreamed of the war ending and of returning home to family and friends. RRP $55.00 plus postage To order and arrange payment of your copy Contact: phil.deed@gmail.com | (07) 888 8897

experience of discovery. “A defining history for a new generation” is the marketing tag-line for New Zealand and the First World War 1914-1919, and this publication will definitely fill the gaping hole on school library shelves (and keep librarians busy ensuring all the enclosures are returned!). However, this is much more than a school resource; it’s the book for every Kiwi home, ready at hand, to be opened again, and again, over the next five years. As Fenton freely admits, his work is a general overview of New Zealand’s involvement, and detailed studies await subsequent books in the series. The first of these is Gavin McLean’s 208-page The White Ships: New Zealand’s First World War Hospital Ships, which explores the relatively unknown story of hospital ships, painted in white and embellished with the red cross, that carried 47,000 wounded soldiers of many nations, including German POWs, and repatriated our wounded soldiers. A senior historian at the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, McLean is not only an expert on all-things-maritime, but he knows well our constitutional and political history (having written a history of our governors-general and currently writing a history of our prime ministers). This constitutional relationship plays large in Governor Liverpool’s original offer and later public funding of the New Zealand hospital ships Maheno and Marama, part of a larger story of the war effort to be told in a proposed book on the home front. McLean’s lively and witty writing style adds to what is certainly not a dry story. As an Otago University student I passed daily the enduring memorium of Marama Hall, opened in 1923, but I was not aware that the hulk of the Maheno is still visible on a beach on Fraser Island, North Queensland, shipwrecked on its final voyage to be scrapped in 1935. This is just one of the many recovered episodes of this unknown story, including a mutiny on the Maheno, part of the daily grind of on-board life and caring for patients under difficult and often dangerous conditions vividly explored in this study and well supported by numerous photographs. Congratulations to the New Zealand Ship & Marine Society for commissioning this worthy tribute to the ships and those who served and sailed aboard them. The Centenary programme of revisiting and revising the New Zealand experience of World War 1 has advanced off the starting line with great gusto with these books. On the eve of 2014 this is the time to make space on your bookshelf (or request new shelves for Christmas!) to house the coming millions of words on the war. That’s how we can truly honour them.

Korean War naval life ‘warts and all’ Daniel Herlihy’s selfpublished HMNZS Taupo – The History of HMNZS Taupo and memories of some that served in her is described by Gerry Wright as an “easyto-read, warts-and-all” story of navy life for officers and men during the Korean War era. It begins with a short account of Taupo’s early life as HMS Loch Shin during World War 2 when, incidentally, the navigating officer was a Kiwi. The story covers the buying of six Loch-class ships and their commissioning to service in the Mediterranean Sea, New Zealand’s waterfront and coalminers’ strike of 1951, and the Korean War where Taupo was often on the Han River gun-line. Wright rates the book as “highly recommended for those interested in naval history”. • An A4, illustrated paperback of $370, it is available at the Royal New Zealand Navy Museum, Devonport for $40 (including postage). A signed copy can be obtained from the author (ph 09 4109058.

'No simple tale' in trenches The trenches of World War I are the powerful setting for an illustrated Kiwi children’s book The Red Poppy. Written by David Hill and illustrated by Fifi Colston, it centres on Jim McLeod, a scared young New Zealand soldier who finds himself a long way from home in the European war. He conceals his fears from his family, penning a rose-tinted account of trench life in a letter home. But we are left on no doubt about his despair, as he is about to engage in an advance on enemy lines. The tension builds towards the moment they go over the top. Also gearing up for the attack is another key character, Nipper, described as having “killed more rats than any other messenger dog”, and pictured standing over a rodent massacre. Jim survives the initial artillery onslaught, only to be wounded in no-mans land – where he finds himself trapped in a shell crater with a badly wounded German soldier. This is no simple tale of heroes and villains. Hill was inspired by the song The Red Poppy by Canadian musician Rob Kennedy;a CD of the song is included with the hardback. • RRP $33.

THE NEW ZEALAND CROSS The New Zealand Cross book by Dr. Brian Kieran Dr Kieran’s latest book is the first comprehensive book concerning the history of the New Zealand Cross - from its creation, the pen portraits of the 23 recipients, explanation of the NZ Wars 1860 to 1872 and the aftermath.

This magnificient, limited print run, collectors edition book highlighting over 200 colour plates and 316 pages on

New Zealand’s rarest medal is available NOW from the author’s website www:newzealandcross.co.nz. or from Copyworld, 64 Dickens St, Napier, ph 8354196, Email copyworld@xtra.co.nz The price, reflecting the quality and research of this book, is $90.00, plus P&P if applicable.

THE NEW ZEALAND CROSS The rarest bravery award in the world Dr. Brian L. Kieran


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