R.S.A. Gold Badge

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 236, 18 September 1936, Page 4

R.S.A. Gold Badge

MERITED HONOUR Presentation to Colonel Holderness PERFECT PRESIDENT “It 13 nice on these occasions to say fine things about anyone, but it is so much nicer when they caa be said truthfully,” said the president, Mr P. J. Priest, at a gathering last evening of Hastings returned soldiers in the Premier Hall, Hastings, in making a presentatiea to Colonel H. Hold ernes*, who recently resigned from the position of president on account of failing health. He had held that office for thirteen years. “Every speaker's worus to-night nave rung true," continued Mr meat. coionM Holderness was presented with an R.S.A. badge set in a gold surround, the work of Mr B. M. Kewell, a member of the 8.8. A. It bore th* inscription: ■ ‘ Hastings life member. Thirteen years president.” “The Colonel has always been known as large-hearted, sympathetic, and understanding,” said Mr. Priest, in pointing out how Mr. Holderness had always given every help to those who needed it. He emphasised that it was only a matter of relinquishing office lor a while, and he hoped that Mr. Holderness would be able to tak* up the reins again later on. “All our presidents have been good presidents,” added Mr. Priest, “but Mr. Holderness was the most approachable, which is a very important thing in such an organisation.” MR. CULLEN’S CONGRATULATIONS. Mr. E. L. Cullen, M.P. for Hawk** Bay, who was present, congratulated Colonel Holderness. The gold badge of the R.S.A., he eaid, wa« held m esteem throughout New Zealand as th* crowning glory of returned eoldiers’ achievements in New Zealand. “Tber* was a time, now happily past,” he remarked, "when the Returned Soldier*’ Associations had a very lean time, but it brought the ‘Diggers’ to their senses.” It was men like Colonel HoL derness who had kept the flag flying. The attendance at the gathering spoke volumes lor his work and efficiency. ‘The present president will have k hard row to hoe to keep this association up to the present standard, which Colonel Holderness and the executive has worked so hard to attain,” concluded Mr. Cullen. “1 have been playing soldier* for 13 years, which is a long, time,” aaid Colonel Holderness in reply. “1 have had a lot of fun out of it. A great deal more has been said to-night than is really true, but ft is a great pleasure to hear these things said when you believe they are really meant. It i» indeed a great pleasure to feel that your friends think it of you, even if it is not true.” A voice: But it is true. VALUE OF A LEADER. “In the old volunteer days,” continued Colonel Holderness, “things looked at times as it we could not keep going. The great thing to remember is that there are always people who want to ilb a job, and if you have the heart to pull them together, then they will do the thing for you. That is what 1 have done. It’s the boys who hav* done it, not me. There is at the present time need for harder work by some of those here. To make any com* pany what is wanted is a suflh lent number anxious to maks a good show and have it well run. Lack of interest all round could soon let down this association. When you get to the ag* when you can’t do any more, the greatest pleasure is to look back and know that you have been able to do some* thing to help others, and that it wa» appreciated.” Mr. Donald McLeod recalled Colonel Holderness's services long before th* War, back in the volunteer day s, when the Hastings Volunteer Rifles wer* saved from going out of existence by his efforts. “In numerous camps afterwards he always thought of his men,’ he added. He had gone on doing work on behalf of his men light to the present day. No one in New Zealand was more entitled to the badge given than he was.

Mr. Prebble endorsed these remarks, “if ever the ‘Diggers’ had a friend,” he said, “they had one, and a smeer* one, in Colonel Holderness.” Probably lew, he added, outside the executive, knew how much he had really done for iho association. Mr. Manson added hi* tribute to Mr. Prebble’* remarks. “NO BETTER MAN." Mr. L. J. Mackersey stressed the well-known fact that had it not been lor Colonel Holderness the Hasting* R.S.A. would have gone out of existence. Great appreciation was due to him he said, for his wonderful addresses given on Anzac Days in the past, and his work on the Hawke's Bay War Relief Association. “We could not have had a belter man in the chair than Colonel Holder ness,” said Mr. F. H. Goldfinch, who related old memories in humorous vein. The records of the Hawke’s Bay War Relief Association showed that he had been closely associated with that work right from 1914. Mr. W. Hainsworth paid a tribute to Colonel lioldernoss's qualities a® a singer in entertaining at re-union* and Mr B. M. Kessell added a few words, I will never forget th* work don* by Colonel Holderness after the 1981 earthquake—and hundreds more will never forget it, either,” said Mr. J. W. MacLachlan. He had helped to convert the meetings of the R.S.A. into a friendly re-union.