Personal acts of remembrance

Working together at HMNZS Toroa on Monday to make some of the 4000-plus posies laid at the Andersons Bay Cemetery soldiers’ section on Anzac Day were (from left) Marilyn Withnall, Leisa Browne, Marnie Thompson, and Dianne Davey. PHOTOS: BRENDA HARWOOD

The hall at HMNZS Toroa naval reserve headquarters was a hive of industry on Monday, as volunteers gathered to make more than 4000 posies to be laid on graves in the services section of Andersons Bay Cemetery on Anzac Day.

Dunedin RSA and RSA Welfare Trust administrator Sally Turner packs posies into boxes, ready to be laid on the soldiers’ graves at Anderson’s Bay Cemetery on Anzac Day.

Dunedin RSA and RSA Welfare Trust administrator Sally Turner and RSA welfare officer Niall Shepherd were on-hand to box up a steady stream of posies — made using rosemary and red paper — ready for Anzac Day.

Mr Shepherd said it was good to see the posy-making tradition return after several years of Covid disruption.

"It’s a nice community remembrance event and helps us to focus on the 4000-odd graves the posies are being made for," he said.

Among those making posies were first-timers Marilyn Withnall, Leisa Browne, and Marnie Thompson, learning the ropes from expert posy-maker Dianne Davey.

"It’s a lovely thing to do, and is a chance for us to honour our relatives who served in the past," Ms Browne said.

With their hands busy at the task, posy-making veterans Pat Collins, Diane Hesketh, and Barbara Walker reminisced about their late husbands Frank Collins — who served in the NZ Navy from 1958-63, John Heskesth — who served in the NZ Navy from 1961-84, and Bruce Walker — who served in the NZ Navy and Naval Reserve for 45 years, from the mid-1960s, including as commanding officer of HMNZS Toroa.

Mrs Hesketh said it was great to be back making posies, as it was a lovely chance to catch up and remember their husbands and family members who served.

Making posies with sweet-smelling rosemary on Monday was a chance to remember husbands and relatives who served in the armed forces for (from left) Pat Collins, Bev Whitaker, John Whitaker, Diane Hesketh, and Barbara Walker.

brenda.harwood@thestar.co.nz