FORTROSE

Southland Times, Issue 23806, 2 May 1939, Page 3

FORTROSE

ANZAC MEMORIAL SERVICE BIG ATTENDANCE IN PUBLIC HALL There was an attendance of about 100 at the annual memorial service held in tire public hall, Fortrose, on the afternoon of Anzac Day. The Rev. W. A. Ca-michael was chairman andassociated on the platform with him were Mr G. Wardle, of Quarry Hills, president of the Southern Sub-Branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, the Rev. J. Lockhead, of Tokanui, and Mr L. D. McVicar, of Invercargill, principal speaker. After opening with “Lochaber No More” played by Piper Lockhead, Kipling’s “Recessional” was sung. The Rev. Mr Lockhead read the lesson from Isaiah, chapter 11, and the Rev. Mr Carmichael led in prayer, followed by the hymn “O God, Our Help.”

Mr G. Wardle thanked all those who had supported the annual poppy day appeal and especially the children who had sold the poppies. Mi’ L. D. McVicar said that as April 25 came round each year thoughts naturally turned to the day when Australian and New Zealand citizen soldiers made the name “Anzac” a tradition to be handed down to posterity. The men of Anzac were the cream of the manhood and were troops any commander would have been proud to have had under his command.

“When we join in an Anzac Day service or parade we should remember these men and all who followed them,” said Mr McVicar. “They fought and died for peace and not to glorify war. It would be well to remember that peace is in our safe keeping and is ours to preserve so that the Anzacs shall not have died in vain.” There was a divided belief regarding the observance of Anzac Day. The materialists regarded these ceremonies of sentiment as an empty gesture and a waste of time. Others held that the observance of Anzac Day was a glorification of war, but nothing could be further from the truth, he said. April 25 was simply and wholly a memorial day on which the living were called upon to lay aside their worldly pleasures and think of the dead who died

in the gallant attempt, however mistaken it may have proved to be, to create a new heaven and a new earth out of the man-made wreckage of the old. There was no need to make this day one of gloom or undue solemnity or harrowing recollection. The first sharp poignancy of grief associated with its early observance had been naturally blunted with the passing of the years, but time’s healing hand had soothed away the agonies of breaking hearts. The soldiers’ achievements still stood as worthy of all praise and undying remembrance. POPPY DAY The Poppy Day appeal in Fortrose was most successful, £3 10/- being raised by the sale of poppies by the school children of the local school on behalf of the Southern District SubBranch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association. RIFLE CLUB The weekly shoot of the Fortrose Miniature Rifle Club was held, when

F. Ericson was top scorer with the possible, 80.5. W. Blair was next with 77. • The detailed scores were.—F. Ericson, 80.5, 76; H. Golden, 76; W. Blair 77, 75; F. Stirling, 75, 74; G. Jennings, 75; Miss C. Golden, 74; J. Speden, 73; J. Stirling, 73; Miss J. Anderson, 73; S. Bennison, 72; I. Christie, 70; D. McGarvie, 67; F. Kinsett, 64; R. Ericson, 61; Mrs Golden, 63; J. W. McGarvie, 55 and 46. BIBLE CLASS The annual meeting of the Fortrose parish combined Bible class was held in the Presbyterian Church, Waimahaka. After the devotional exercises, led by the Rev. W. A. Carmichael, had been taken, the election of officers was held. It resulted as follows:—Leader, the Rev. W. A. Carmichael; sub-leader, Miss C. Stirling; secretary, Miss J. Fraser; treasurer, Mr F. Chisholm.

It was decided to meet on Tuesday evening of each week at 7 p.m. Studies are to be taken from the syllabus, “Life Worth Living.”