Nelson Weekly Locally Owned and Operated
tuesday 16 May 2017
Hockey players in action
Plan a
Mums meet mums
page 15
Forunction Event pg 20-21
page 26
No plaque for war hero Kate Russell Reporter
kate@nelsonweekly.co.nz
World War 2 hero John Beeching will miss out on a memorial plaque reserved for veterans, because he has lived too long. Born in London, John, 93, served
in World War II as a pilot for the Royal Air Force. He has lived in New Zealand for 64 years and calls himself a Kiwi - but because he is classed as a “commonwealth veteran”, he won’t qualify for a memorial bronze plaque when he passes away, due to recent changes to the war pensions act.
From 1 July 2016, Veterans Affairs New Zealand (VANZ) no longer accepted applications for plaques and headstones in respect of commonwealth veterans – only New Zealand veterans. Although commonwealth veterans can still be interred in a service cemetery, the cost of the
plaque, which is around $500, has to be met by the veteran’s family or estate. If John had passed away before the change his bronze plaque would have been covered. John says it is “unbelievable” that VANZ would even consider the change.
The patron of the Nelson RSA calls himself a “naturalised New Zealander” and has more than played his part, commanding 57 different Mosquito combat planes in dozens of missions over Europe.
SEE PAGE 3
Bands’ quest for rock glory 19 school bands take to the stage. Full story page 11. Garin College’s Future Class vocalist Abbey Hahn is looking forward to the Smokefree Rockquest Nelson Final later this week. Photo: Brittany Spencer.
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