ANNUAL RE UNION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 302, 7 May 1941, Page 8

ANNUAL RE UNION

RETURNED SOLDIERS GATHER WHAKATANE ANNUAL EVENT A very successful re-unicin of the Whakatane Returned Soldiers' Association was held! in the King Street Hall on Wednesday the 30th April. Over 120 Diggers and their guests attended,, and amongst them being three returned men of the' l 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force. The annual general meeting was held before the more! serious business of the gathering, Mr Les. H. Brown presiding in place of Mr F. W. K. Raymond (president) who forwarded a telegram apologising for his unavoidable absence, and expressing regret at being unable to attend:, and also forwarding good wishes for continued success of the local Returned Soldiers' Association, The Secretary (Mr G. A. Head), read the minutes of the previous annual general meeting, also tho balance sheet (a copy of which every member had received) which was adopted. Mr Les. H. Brown, in the absencc of Mr' Raymond, presented the report, giving a brief survey of the association activities for the past year, he mentioned that the final figures for the Poppy Day appeal were not yet available, but to> date the! sum of £220 had been received, and that after purchase of poppies the incidental expenses had been deducted from the gross; the net proceeds would amount to round about £180 to be available for the assistance of returned soldiiersi' of the last Avar and the new returned soldiers of the present Avar, also he expressed the opinion that Avith tho wholehearted support of all members this figure could, be raised to £550 next year. Mr Brown stressed the necessity for every endeavour to be made to conserve the build up the funds, so that they should have a substantial balance in hand to enable the Association to grant immediate assistance to all deserving cases of hardship, not only of Diggers of the last Avar but also the Diggers of the present Avar. The Executive had during the past year with very few exceptions attending overy executive. meeting, and; the work that had ; been put through the Association had been tremendous, more especially since noAA r the returned: soldiers are acting as Big" Brothers, to the soldiers at present o\ r erscas. The election of officers for the new year resulted as folloAvs:—President: Mr Les,. H, Brown; Vice-pre-sident: Mr K. Runciman; Treasurer: Mr C. A. Head; ExecutiA r e: Mr S. BroAvn, Mr H. Mae Don aid,, Mr B, Cottrell, Mr J. Delves;, Mr A.. Atkinson, Mr S. WhitAVorth, Mr W. T. King, Mr J. Bryant, Mr Les Forbes, Mr F. C. HaAvthc/rne, Mr G. W. Mexted, Mr lan Gow, Mr Les. Luxton, Mr Keo. Kopae; Auditor: Mr J. W. Wilson. Mr BroAvn in opening the proceedings for the l re-union introduced the Visitors), amongst them being Mr Barry (Mayor), Mr Scott (Wellington), and also three new Diggers of the present Avar Messrs Brosnahan, G. Hooper and Waaka. T'hei toasts honoured: Avere :— The King; Absent Comrades, proposed by Mr lan Gow; Last Post and Reveille were sounded by Buglei Jarrett. "New Zealand. Returned Soldiers' Association," "The Navy, Army and Air Forces," "Medical and Nurses," "Territorials," "Retiring President," "Returned Men of the 2nd: DiAdsion," "The Ladies," "Our Visitors," "The Artists." The press Avas included: in the toast list, but since the members of the Press Avere not present, the speaker Avho Avas to propose their health could only express regret at thenr absencc and at not being able to toast them, as they deserved, but expressed the Association's appreciation for their assistance at all times' for the good of all diggers. During tho evening items Avere rendered by artists, aP of whose efforts Avere A*ery much appreciated. Musicians and artists who gaA'e Items were Messrs Sliarkev, W. Jarrett, K. Jarrett, Hayden, Calton Ker, Clarke and Major Haeusler. The re-unicn concluded in the Sma' Wee Hours Avitl: the sfnging of Auld Lang SVne.