ANZAC DAY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 55, Issue 32707, 1 May 1946, Page 5

ANZAC DAY

WAITAKARURU SERVICE

IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY

GOOD ATTENDANCE OF PUBLIC

The first Anzac Day service Ao be held since the cessation of hostilities was held at Waitakaruru when a splendid.mus'ter of men assembled outside the Post Office. The parade, led by Piper Burns Robertson then marched: to the hall where the service was held.

The attendance at the hall was much better than in previous years and; the service was simple but most impressive.

The Rev. Howitt of the Prebyterian Church led the service, and Padre W. R. 'Castle, now vicar of the Hauraki Plains Parish, gave the address. In this he assured his listeners how lovingly the war graves are tendered, and he had visited many.

Mr Neville Hedges, for the R.S.A. then called in those placing wreaths and recited the beautiful lines “They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old, age shall not weary them nor the years condemn, at the going down of the sun and in the morning we shall remember them.” He then read the names of the men of W’aitakararuru district who fell in the war of 1914-I'B, namely John French, Wm. A. McClean, Wm. Streeton, Frederick J. Tott. ' Mr L. ’Batts then laid a wreath of remembrance on the table provided. The men of this war who fell were Gordon Beaver, Esbett Heenan, Tom Wylie, Cyril Redmond, Herbert Jesen, Ronald Whittleston. Mr A. Wilson laid a -wreath on behalf of the 2; N.Z.EjF.

Other wreaths were laid on behalf of Home Servicemen by Mr C. Death; Home Guard by Mr J. Wilson; Women’s War Service by Miss Pat Abbot; Boy Stouts and Cubs by ' Wayne Hirties, Joe Brown; Women’s Institute, Mr& F. Pinchess; Women’s Division, Mrs- W. Cropp; 'School children, standards, Marie Bougent, primers, Janice Cox and Graham Coxhead.

The following hymns were sung with Mr Smith at the piano: “Oh God Our Help In Ages Past ” “0 Valiant Hearts,” “'Eternal Fathers” apd concluded with the National Anthem. A collection was taken up. which will be devoted- to the care of the graves of the war heroes.