Golden Bay in Anzac Day remembrance

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...Morely gave a short speech in which he talked about “the struggle for a better more peaceful world” and underlined the importance of remembrance. “Make sure the names of those who gave their lives shall not be forgotten but be spoken.”

All present then stood for the singing of the Australian and New Zealand national anthems and the benediction, after which the crowd dispersed.

At 11.30am precisely Paddy Gillooly welcomed the those gathered in Collingwood Memorial Hall to the township’s 108th Anzac service of remembrance.

He pointed out that this year marked the centenary of the unveiling of the Collingwood war memorial, and this milestone was reflected in the displays set up around the hall and in the extensive archive material laid out on a long trestle table.

The service followed a similar order to the Tākaka commemoration, with a rendition of God Save The King , a period of silence, and a hymn before pastor Rowan Miller led the scripture reading and prayers.

Noel Baigent continued his busy day with a very personal and, at times, emotional address during which he recalled his part in repatriating the remains of a Kiwi WWI combatant for internment in the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior – the country’s foremost symbol of remembrance for all those New Zealanders who did not return from serving overseas.

Noel revealed that his great-uncle Lawry was killed in the Somme, and although his body was never identified, his name appears on the wall of Grevilliers Cemetery near the town of Arras. “My lifetime goal was one day visit and pay my respect to Lawry and his fallen comrades.”

He got his chance in November 2004 as a member of the Operation Valhalla team tasked with bringing the Unknown Warrior home. Noel’s role was to handle the logistics and paperwork required for the return journey.

On Armistice Day 2004, the Unknown Warrior was laid to rest in his tomb after being slowly paraded through Wellington streets lined with a crowd of around 100,000.

“No one knows whom those remains are,” said Noel. Could it be my great-uncle Lawry?”

At the end of Noel’s address, the service concluded with the singing of the Australian and New Zealand National Anthems.

The congregation then reconvened at the centotaph where, despite the gale force wind blowing down the Aorere Valley, proceedings resumed with the traditional ceremony including The Last Post, the Reveille, and a recitation of The Ode in te reo by Collingwood Area School head student Iris Garbutt.

With all formalities over, those assembled returned to the Hall for refreshments prepared by the CAS netball team.