HMNZS ‘Toroa’ to host Posy Day for the final time

Volunteers were pictured during last year’s posy-making workshop at HMNZS Toroa, and will return next Friday to make about 5000 rosemary posies to be laid on graves in the service section of the Andersons Bay Cemetery on Anzac Day. PHOTO: BRENDA HARWOOD

Dunedin’s Naval Reserve headquarters HMNZS Toroa will be filled with the fragrant scent of rosemary for the final time next week, as volunteers gather to make up to 5000 posies for Anzac Day.

Posy Day, to be held next Friday, April 24, from 9am until about 11.30am, will bring together volunteers of all ages to make the rosemary and red paper posies, ready to be laid on the soldiers’ graves at Andersons Bay Cemetery on Anzac Day.

The posy-laying service and ceremony will be held at the cemetery from 9.30am on Anzac Day, following the Dawn Service at the cenotaph in Queens Gardens.

RSA Welfare Trust administrator Sally Turner said this would be the last time the posy-making session would be held at HMNZS Toroa, as the facility was in the process of winding down and closing.

The city’s Naval Reserve was now based at the new Dunedin Defence Facility, in the former Farmlands building in Cumberland St, which housed New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) military units in Otago and Southland.

‘‘So, next Friday’s Posy Day will be quite poignant, as we say goodbye to HMNZS Toroa,’’ Mrs Turner said.

‘‘It is always a nice atmosphere during the posy-making sessions — everyone enjoys a good chat and shares their memories.

‘‘And the smell is wonderful.’’

Mrs Turner said it was important to gather enough rosemary to make up to 5000 posies, and the Dunedin RSA was putting out the call for donations of rosemary from local gardens.

‘‘We want to have enough rosemary to make the full complement of posies, so all donations will be gratefully received,’’ she said.

Donations can be left at HMNZS Toroa, 211 St Andrew St, on Thursday, April 23, from 9am to 3pm.