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As trumpets sounded in the predawn darkness, hundreds of people gathered at the Hibiscus Coast Community RSA for the ANZAC Day dawn service as the wind, not strong enough to dampen spirits, blew the New Zealand and Australian flags proudly.
At 6.20am, the crowd stood in silence and respect. The only sound, the song of Tui.
On the 110th anniversary of Gallipoli and the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, most of the stories are remembered through the spoken word, passed down the generations.
Hibiscus Coast Community RSA general manager Vini Rangihaeata-Stockman says more than 400 people attended the dawn service and about 700 attended the 11am service.
“We want to sincerely thank everyone who joined us on the day. Your presence helped make it such a special occasion for our RSA community and, most importantly, for our Returned and Service men and women, Vini says.
“A very special thank you must go to the New Zealand Veteran Band for bringing their beautiful music to our part of the world. We were truly honoured to host them – they booked in with us two years ago, and we were incredibly fortunate to have been chosen. What an amazing group of people!”
She thanked the many sponsors who supported the club, in particular the volunteers who helped the ceremony run smoothly and the RSA women’s section who catered the lunch for 300 guests.
“Their dedication, hard work, and care ensured that the spirit of Anzac Day was honoured in every way. We would also like to extend a very special thank you to all the children who participated in the parade, along with their schools and community groups. Seeing so many young people taking part with such respect and pride brought a wonderful sense of unity and remembrance to the day.”
The RSA is currently fundraising to replace the paper poppies on the memorial wall with permanent ones.
If you are interested in supporting them, email reception@hbcrsa.org.nz or call 09 424 9026.
