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RSA REVIEW • AUTUMN 2016
National Office
SPIRIT OF ANZAC : IT’S ALIVE AND WELL IN NEW EALAND BJ Clark, RSA national president It’s a very busy time for RSAs all over the country. This is our peak season – all eyes are on us, and the voices that make up our unique and enduring movement can be heard the clearest. First, the Poppy Appeal, when we remember and honour those servicemen and women who have gone by supporting those still with us. The street appeal is being supplemented with
a number of other initiatives, all proceeds of which go to the Poppy Trust or to improving support services. Then, Anzac Day – the real show of strength of the RSA movement, as well as depth of the feelings of New Zealanders in supporting remembrance and the meaning of this unique national day.
City of Dunedin Army cadet unit member Jethro Brandish (left) and RSA choir second tenor Ken Clark take to the street on Poppy Day.
This is an early, but appropriate time to recognise and congratulate the efforts of the movement in organising for Anzac Day commemorations. With 180 events confirmed across the country, and attracting more and more people every year, April 25 holds a special place in the New Zealand calendar. At time of writing, we’re also calling for nominations for the Governor General/RSA Anzac of the Year Award. The award recognises the efforts and achievements of an outstanding New Zealander (or New Zealanders), who have given service in a positive, selfless and compassionate manner. The five previous winners have come from all over New Zealand and from different age groups, but are united by one factor: when they were tested, they rose to and overcame whatever challenges they were faced with. We regard this as the spirit of Anzac, and this is our way of showing it is alive in our country today. And, as I write this, the ANZ RSA Cyril Bassett
VC Speech Competition regional finals have just taken place, with talented and dedicated young people from all over New Zealand speaking about ‘New Zealanders in World War 1’. We’ve so far heard a whole range of speeches – from profiles of servicemen or women from the past, a living veteran, and specific aspects relating to World War 1 commemoration. The eight year-12 and 13 regional finalists will compete at the national final in Wellington on March 23, with the overall winner travelling with the New Zealand Defence Force to Gallipoli for 2016 Anzac Day commemorations. The competition is named after Cyril Bassett, VC (1892-1983), the only New Zealander at Gallipoli to be awarded the Victoria Cross, and one who worked his entire (non-wartime) career with the ANZ Bank. The spirit of Anzac is alive and well, as we remember the actions of those who have gone before us by supporting and advancing the movement into the future. We will remember them.
POPPY APPEAL 2016: REMEMBER TO CARE David Moger, RSA chief executive As we build up to another Anzac Day, and another year of the RSA Poppy Appeal, we have been reflecting on how best to support all our servicemen and women. The RSA Movement is as relevant and needed today as in 1916 when Capt Simpson and the men he had fought beside in the Gallipoli trenches established a plan to look after their wounded mates. However, as the mode of warfare our military personnel engage in changes, so do the types of wounds our servicemen and women incur. Psychological wounding has become the most prevalent injury service men or women are likely to receive – the numbers affected by this, and its wider consequences not entirely clear.
To help in this area, the RSA has been working to develop and connect networks of current and former servicemen and women, and their dependents. In the last six months, we can say we’ve seen some significant successes. However, more than anything, these have served as indicators of how much this support is needed, and how much more work we have to do. New Zealand has 31,000 veterans of overseas deployments, and tens of thousands of men and women who have served honourably within New Zealand. Of these, 11,000 are from the World War 2–Vietnam period and 20,000 have served in overseas campaigns post-Vietnam. Today, many New Zealanders have no real
understanding of what this means, what this service entails, and the ongoing effects some experience. As well as supporting our older veterans, the RSA is expanding the work it does with those serving in recent years. Some of those we help are people in their late teens and 20s, who have been physically and psychologically wounded. The Poppy Appeal has been the main source of funds for our charitable work for many years and to help fund these new expanded services, this Poppy Day, we’re launching a number of initiatives. In Z service stations across New Zealand, drivers can buy flexible silicon car poppies they can attach with cable ties or suction cups.
Money raised from this will go towards the RSA’s development and provision of very necessary support. I’d like to see every car on the road wearing a poppy just as much as I’d like to see every person wearing one Following a successful introduction last year, we’re also selling truck poppies direct to the public, through our on-line shop. These sold out last year, and we’re hoping they will again in 2016. We’re almost ready to launch a number of other exciting developments – watch for the poppy. We’re doing all we can to encourage the people of New Zealand to “remember to care”, to help provide the funds we need to support our servicemen and women.
We’ve also got exciting developments planned in some of New Zealand’s top locations, taking the RSA to places it has never gone before. We’re a part of Kiwi life, which gives us unique and huge opportunities. The development of the Fox Hole concept is based on several ideas: • A different type of offering will attract a different type of customer. • We noticed a definite lack of family-friendly options across New Zealand.
• Leading a perception change, while building on the rich history of RSA hospitality (hearts and minds – via stomachs and tastebuds). We’re working long and hard to make this new chapter in the history of RSA hospitality something that stands beside the last century of good times, honest food and community focus. Above all else, we’re excited about where we can go with this, and how we can serve the people of New Zealand.
RSA PRESENTS: THE FOX HOLE – A NEW TYPE OF FAMILY RESTAURANT
Grant Marris, RSA business development manager I’ve been working with several RSAs to develop fresh, new business opportunities. It should come as no surprise to anyone operating an establishment providing food, drinks and hospitality that customer needs are changing. Customers are being offered more choice than ever before in terms of what and where they eat. The hospitality sector is booming. Between this background, a significant amount of market research, and a number of conversations
with those involved in the industry, we’ve developed the Fox Hole restaurant concept. In the last few weeks, we have launched Fox Hole family restaurants in Mount Maunganui and Sumner, with a number more planned this year. We’re also launching Fox Hole Mini – a modular coffee machine-and-supply package, which can sit on the end of the bar of an RSA – for those unwilling to commit to a full refit just yet but who still want to broaden their offering.