By Julie Walls-Focus Media
Fiordland RSA’s ANZAC Day Commemorations is always well attended year on year for the Fiordland RSA.
“The Fiordland RSA Committee would like to thank our community for their support of the Anzac Services this year. It was wonderful to see such great turnouts at the dawn and community services”, said President Jan Lieshout.
The 7.00am Dawn Service at Te Anau Club had up to 250 people. Poppies were also taken out to the Lynwood Cemetery and placed on the graves of RSA members.
The service at the Te Anau War Memorial at Anzac Reserve saw over 800 people attending in fine conditions.
It included a large number of young people including Scouts Te Anau who had up to 100 of their 130 youth members turned out for the Anzac Day Parade ~ and others wore their uniform to ceremonies in other parts of New Zealand.
The Scouts were also the flag-bearers for the parade. Community groups and organisations saw the laying of 12 wreaths on the memorial. Steve Reed and Jeff Anderson laid the wreath for the Fiordland RSA.
The dedication was performed by Hunter Pearce, Guest Speaker David Stringer of Te Anau, Lament was played by Invercargill Piper 14 year old Sam Lindsay, Fiordland College Head Students Alia Johnstone, Grace Perry, Olivia Spencer and Wade Parkinson did the reading of In Flanders Field and laid a wreath and ODE read by John Hefford.
Fiordland RSA Secretary Jan Lieshout said, “The moving contributions from Duncan McGregor - Fiordland Military Museum, with the memorable Howitzer gun salute over Lake Te Anau, Fiordland. It was a deeply meaningful day of remembrance for all involved.”
Pipers who lead the parade were Te Anau Pipers David Pickett and Gwylam MacMillan-Armstrong and Snare Drummer Caitlin Hattrill all of Te Anau, Greg Lindsay and his son Sam of Invercargill, The group come together each ANZAC Day.
There are a few special thank you to the following people and organisations who without their help and generosity would make putting this together for you all so much harder.
Hunter Pearce our Chaplin and his wife Melanie Pearce who did a great job of the live streams.
Our guest speaker David Springer, who kindly shared his family stories and memories.
The Te Anau Scouts, for the great turnout, and being our flag bearers.
Mararoa School head students for the cleaning of our members and service men and women's headstones in preparation for ANZAC Day.
Duncan McGregor from Fiordland Military Museum for bringing his vehicles, the drivers and Howitzer gun salute over Lake Te Anau, always a great addition to our service.
Fiordland Nurseries for always making sure the Cenotaph looks good and also for the beautiful poppies we put on display each year.
Fiordland Jet, for generously allowing us to plug in the sound system for the community service
Downers Te Anau for the traffic management so we can have a safe parade.
Ian from Te Anau Photocentre for all the advertising and printing of service sheets
Nepia Tauri from Tracknet for supplying the bus that takes the RSA members to the cemetery after the dawn service
Te Anau Club & Garden Bistro for supplying tea, coffee, bickies and savouries after the dawn service, and hosting us after the 11am service
Steve Reed our parade marshal - who keeps things organised and moving along
Te Anau Events Centre for the use of the chairs and lectern - and being available as a wet weather back up should we need it.
Te Anau Engineering Services for the repair work we needed.
To all the very kind people, who on Friday were out selling poppies. 100% of poppy sales goes into the welfare fund, this is used to support our service people in their times of need. Our opportunity to give back to them.
Lastly the RSA committee and members... What a team, all working together to once again deliver a great day for our community and visitors. Thanks to each of you. Geoff and Liz Trumper, Tony Leonard, John Hefford, Rhys Jones, Trish Wilson and Mark Wilson, Hunter Pearce, Nicki Jackson and Jan Lieshout.
We will remember them
