My Account
Public Anzac Day services will go ahead as usual across most of the Mahurangi area on April 25, despite New Zealand Defence Force personnel and officers across the services being told not to attend.
These personnel have instead been asked to hold commemorations on Defence Force bases and camps.
Trying to stop the spread of Omicron from young and fit personnel, who may not be showing any symptoms, to older veterans is behind the directive from Defence Force chief Air Marshal Kevin Short
The Warkworth Returned Services Association has around 130 veterans with some in their 90s. Given some members would be particularly vulnerable to the virus. Warkworth RSA district president Bob Harrison sees this decision as a reasonable and responsible position for the forces to take.
A member of the defence forces would normally speak at both the dawn service and the later civil service, and Bob is currently looking at alternative experienced speakers who could take their place.
Other speakers who would normally be there are still expected to participate, including Mahurangi College head girl and head boy at the civil service.
Harrison says keeping the health of elderly veterans in mind, and after taking into account submissions from individuals and groups within the association, the executive committee has decided to extend the vaccination pass requirement within the Warkworth RSA rooms until after Anzac Day.
“We understand that the vast majority of members are vaccinated, and this will only restrict access to a very small number of members,” Harrison says.
As in past years, a van and driver will be available to take veterans to the cenotaph from the RSA rooms and back if they are unable to take part in the march, with a separate, cordoned off seating area for veterans. For service times.
