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News
RSA REVIEW • SPRING 2016
News OBITUARY The official publication of the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services Association Volume 92 No.3 Spring 2016 Published September 22, 2016
In this issue 02 News 09 National 12 Defence Matters 18 Last Post 19 Lost Trails 20 Remembering 28 What’s On 42 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@rsa.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 EDITOR: Dion Crooks Ph (03) 983 5505 dion@waterfordpress.co.nz ADVERTISING: Paul Crowther Ph (03) 983 5503 paul@waterfordpress.co.nz Dave McKee Ph (03) 983 5518 davem@waterfordpress.co.nz PRODUCTION MANAGER: Luke Lynch DESIGN & LAYOUT: Samantha Stuart, Liki Udam, Anton Gray, Mike Perry, Connor Gosnell, Caleb Yappa Ph (03) 983 5560 / art@waterfordpress.co.nz OFFICE / ACCOUNTS: Helen Bourne, Jill Holland, Alex Cohen Ph (03) 983 5500 helen@waterfordpress.co.nz CUSTOMER SERVICES: Ann-Marie Frentz, Sarah McQuilkin, Charlotte Frentz, Joyce Dela Cruz Ph: (03) 983 5554 annmarie@waterfordpress.co.nz GENERAL MANAGER: Rex Lynch
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INSPIRED LEADER WITH VISION Don McIver
LTGEN (RTD) DONALD STUART MCIVER, CMG, OBE In 2008 Don McIver and David Maloney were asked to conduct a review of the RSA nationally and to provide an overview on a direction the RSA should follow so that it could continue to be relevant. Their work became known as the M & M Report and, without it, I doubt we would be in such a positive state as we are today. It made us sit up and face the facts that we needed to change to be in a position to carry out our prime role – support those who have served. Thankfully the RSA, both nationally and locally, heeded the advice, or most of it, and the warnings of what would happen if we didn’t. In 2010 Don was invited out for dinner, oysters, steak and a good bottle of red. He was approached and shoulder-tapped, to put his name forward to run for RSA national president. He gave the request a considerable amount of thought before
Don McIver
agreeing. He was elected and served as national president from 2010 until 2014. He led the RSA through a significant and positive programme of change that thoroughly modernised the organisation, including the launch of our vibrant new brand, a significant reorganisation of the national office, and a comprehensive range of product and services for the benefit of local RSAs. It is also important to remember that Don led
this organisation through the most tumultuous economic period it has faced, with the global financial crisis impacting particular hard on the hospitality sector. His inspirational leadership was pivotal in bringing the whole movement through what were dark days. On his watch we achieved a closer engagement with Defence, launched significant innovation through the Virtual Association, the RSA Club Card and the On-line Remembrance Project in partnership with the ANZ, of the Shadow Battalion. Don, along with Robyn Klitscher, played a significant part in the final stages of the War Pensions Review Act which became the Veterans Support Act 2014. Another of his passions was the Anzac Salute, and I am deeply saddened that he will not be here to see the completion of this project. When it is unveiled in 2018, we will remember Don’s vision for that project. The personal impact Don had on all those he met in the RSA, especially the staff at the national office will be missed. – BJ Clark, RSA national president
Regular force cadet became NZ Army chief of general staff LtGen (rtd) Donald Stuart McIver was born in Auckland on January 22, 1936. He died on August 22, 2016. He was married to Margaret for more than 50 years, and is survived by six children, 16 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He joined the New Zealand Army in 1952 as a Regular Force cadet, Williams Class. After four years (1954-57) at the Military College, Duntroon, Australia, he saw active service as a platoon commander in Malaya from 1958-71. He was with 1RNZIR as second-in-command and as adjutant in Malaysia and Borneo during the Indonesian Confrontation, and second-incommand 4 RAR/NZ (ANZAC) Bn in Vietnam. From 1979-83, he was the commander of 1st Task Force Region, Papakura (Colonel), then deputy commander NZ Force, South-East Asia, Singapore. After a period at the Royal College of Defence Studies, London in 1984, he was assistant chief of defence staff, operations at Defence Headquarters (Brigadier) in 1985-86, then chief
of general staff, NZ Army (Major General) from 1987-89, and commander, multinational force and observers, on the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt (Lieutenant General) from 1989-91. His post-military career included being a director of the NZ Security Intelligence Service from 1991-99, reporting directly to the prime minister on domestic security intelligence, liaising with overseas intelligence and security agencies, and a member of the Officials Domestic and External Security Co-ordination Committee for national security matters, including counter terrorism. From July 2000 to July 2002, he was at the United Nations (New York) as an officer for outside information with the UN Monitoring, Observation and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC). He reported directly to Hans Blix in UNMOVIC, collecting information on Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, established an independent intelligence collection, analysis and storage system, and developed international liaison relating to Iraqi weapons of mass destruction
During his time (2010-14) as RSA national president, he was also a past executive trustee and chairman of National Army Museum executive management committee and chairman of its literary award committee. His array of recognition includes: Companion of the Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and St George; Officer of the British Empire; NZ Operational Service Medal; General Service Medal with clasps Malaya Peninsular 1961–1964 and Borneo; NZ General Service Medal (Warlike) with clasp Malaya; Vietnam Medal; NZ General Service Medal (Warlike) with clasp Vietnam; NZ General Service Medal (non -Warlike ) with clasp Sinai; NZ Armed Forces Award and Bar; New Zealand Defence Service Medal with Clasp Regular; Pingat Jasa Campaign Medal; South Vietnamese Campaign Meda; Multi National Force and Observers Medal. At the RSA National Council in 2010, he was awarded the RSA’s highest award – The Badge in Gold and Life Membership.
Veteran gifts remainder of collection to Papakura Museum In Theo Thomas’ home there’s a special room dedicated to “great cobbers” and places he’ll never forget. The 90-year-old Papakura veteran, who has been collecting war memorabilia since the 1950s, is parting with the remainder of items closest to his heart. He has been gifting pieces of his collection to the Papakura Museum for the last 10 years and is now offering the lot. “I’d rather it be in a place for all people to look at rather than a collector come and take what I’ve got here.” Them Thomas was just 19 when he arrived home from World War 2. He became a collector when a good friend got him interested in medals. His collection soon grew into the hundreds and included other war memorabilia such as photos, letters, plaques, books, uniforms and everything else, from the Victorian era to the Vietnam War. “It was a hobby and once you’ve got a hobby it’s hard to chuck it away,” says Theo.
Theo Thomas with some of his memorabilia.
He had been in Navy at 16 but “was seasick in bathwater”. He became an aircraftsman in the Royal New Zealand Air Force and, at 18, was sent to the Solomon Islands. He describes his war as being with “the finest people you could serve with”. After the war he became involved with St John as an ambulance driver and climbed ranks to
become Auckland district superintendent. His St John uniform and personal war memorabilia such as photos, sketches and letters from the war are among his collection. One item he particularly treasures is the New Zealand Roll of Honour book from 1845 to 1995. “My brother (Reg) and I have our names in that book...we were decorated in the order of St John in 1944. “That was quite something for two brothers to be decorated at the same time.” Theo Thomas’s’ collection also includes items from veterans he knew and regarded as “great cobbers” such as the late Leo Walsh and Lenard Grant. The collection is a lot smaller now but lots of memories remain, he says. “I can come out here and reminisce and that’s the value of being a collector. You’ll never forget people and unless you’ve been in the services no one will ever know what a servicemen or ex-servicemen feels like.”