May Newsletter

Your Executive Committee met Tuesday evening, (observing social distancing), and decided that we would wait until we see what level one regulations are binding on us before we return to our Monday meetings. Certainly, we will not recommence before 8 June 2020. Also, there will have to be changes with the way we operate.

However, we do look forward to welcoming you all back to our facilities. We have been thinking of you and via our telephone tree have tried to keep in touch. Please do not hesitate to let us know if you are having difficulties that we can address.

Sadly, we lost Jim Williamson, who went for a walk and had a fall and a brain bleed but died before he was got to hospital. Because of COVID-19 restrictions a memorial service has not yet been held and I hope to be able to go to recite the “Ode” for him when we find out when it will be held.

For two years in a row, our usual Anzac Day commemorations have been disrupted by external factors. However, it was wonderful to see so many of our community “Standing at Dawn” as suggested by our national RNZRSA.

The President 'Standing at Dawn'

After "Standing at Dawn" I made my way down to the cenotaph, adhering to social distancing requirements, and placed our Devonport RSA wreath at the base of "the untidy soldier". It was heart-warming to witness others from the community conducting their own private ceremonies and acts of remembrance.

Also, so many people decorated their own dwellings with poppies which they had made themselves. We have so many creative people in Devonport and going on my daily walks I have been impressed by the variety of ways that people have used to remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

This is an Anzac Day we will never forget.

A note left on Anzac day at the Devonport Cenotaph

We will have participation from school students who will be competing in a speech competition with the prize winners contributing their speech at our Remembrance Ceremony.

This Friday, Rebecca will be overseeing Navy personnel cleaning and restoring the gravestones of soldiers in O’Neill’s Point Cemetery.

In the meantime, go out for a walk in the sun and keep washing your hands.

 Howard Mace
President

The Devonport Cenotaph a few days after Anzac Day