Highlanders general manager of rugby Greg O’Brien and eight players spent about an hour last week, making the rosemary and red paper remembrance posies and chatting with other posy-makers, before heading out to Montecillo Veterans Home and Hospital to meet residents.
Mr O’Brien said Highlanders players and staff regularly took part in community events to meet the people, do some good works and gain inspiration.
‘‘Making these posies is both enjoyable and significant for us as we look towards commemorating Anzac Day,’’ he said.
Dunedin women Raewyn Trainor, Lesley McLachlan, Pam Lyons and Sue [surname withheld] were also enjoying taking part in the posy-making session and were remembering family members who had served in the defence forces.
Ms Trainor’s father Private Charlie Sonntag served with the NZ Army in the Italian campaign during World War 2; and Ms Lyon’s father Jack Hodge also served in Italy, as a tank driver with the NZ Army 20th Battalion at the Battle of Cassino.
Ms McLachlan’s father Campbell McLachlan served with the NZ Army in the Solomon Islands during the World War 2 Pacific campaign.
Ms Lyons said it was fun taking part in the posy-making session and contributing to the solemn and significant Posy Laying Ceremony at Andersons Bay Cemetery on Anzac Day.
RSA Welfare Otago & Southland District support manager Niall Shepherd, who was helping to co-ordinate the posy-making session, was delighted with the turnout which was well up on last year.
‘‘It’s great to see so many people here taking part and helping out with this important work, he said.
Friday’s posy making session was the final time the event would be hosted at HMNZS Toroa, as the facility is in the process of winding down and closing.
The city’s Naval Reserve will be based at the new Dunedin Defence Facility, in the former Farmlands building in Cumberland St, which houses the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) military units in Otago and Southland.
- brenda.harwood@alliedmedia.co.nz
