GERALDINE ANZAC DAY

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVII, Issue 23186, 27 April 1945, Page 3

GERALDINE ANZAC DAY

Local Observance Duty Of R.S.A. The meaning of Anzac Day, which was instituted to commemorate the sacrifices made in the last war, has been given a greater meaning in that it now includes a new generation of men who were prepared to go forth and sacrifice themselves for their country, said Mr A. N. Campbell, South Canterbury District Rehabilitation Officer, in his address at the Geraldine Anzac Day commemoration in the Town Hall. The nation's gratitude was due to those men who had sacrificed themselves both in the last war and this. If the dead of both wars could rise, said Mr Campbell, he did not think they would want us to keep Anzac Day only as a day of solemn remembrance and let it go at that. They would expect us to see that their sacrifices had not been in vain, and that we honour the dead by assisting the living. Addressing members of the R.S.A., Mr Campbell suggested that they belonged to a great brotherhood of men who had fought for their country, and they should always be ready to assist the underdog. As the year's went by after the last war, said Mr Campbell, people noticed the derelicts who floated from place to place because the apathy of the public toward them was very marked. Such a thing should never happen again, he said, and it was in the hands of the R.S.A. to protect the interests of the men returning from this war. The R.S.A. was a great force for good or evil in the country, and it should make its voice heard when it came to the case of the returned serviceman.

Prayers were offered by the Rev. E. R. E. Ross and Canon A. H. Norris, and the Rev. Angus Mcßean gave a Scripture reading. The solo, “This Day We Will Remember," was sung by Mrs M. Ballantyne. The Geraldine Orchestra, under Mr E. Undrill, played “Rosemary.” “Minuet,” and ’.’Alma,” and accompanied the hymns. The parade to the hall was one of the largest yet seen. It was headed by the Geraldine Band, under Conductor C. Ashby. Mr F. W. Morgan, president of the Geraldine R.S.A., acted as marshal, and others parading included members of the military forces under Lieutenant Sands, the Returned Services’ Association, under Mr J. M. Little; the Geraldine branch of the Homeservicemen's Association, under Mr F. R. Wilks; the Air , TrainingCorps, under Flying Officer M. B. Marks; the Geraldine Voluntary Aids, under the Detachment Commandant, Mrs R. Cowan; Boj' Scouts (Scoutmaster, the Rev. E. R. E. Ross); Wolf Cubs (Cubmistress Sherratt); Girl Guides (Captain Firman); Brownies (Brown Owl Rodgers), and Rangers (Captain Davies). After the service, former servicemen carried the many beautiful wreaths to the war memorial where Bugler N. Watt sounded Last Post and Reveille. The names of district men who had fallen in the war of 1914-18, and this war, were read. The Toe H dawn service, which was held at 6.30 a.m., was largely attended.

Ambulance Day A sum of £l3O was raised as a result of a successful Ambulance Day street appeal at Geraldine on Tuesday. Mrs H. V. Firman was in charge and other stall-holders included: Indoor produce, Mrs A. W. Morrison and Miss C. Hislop; outdoor produce, Mesdames W. Depree and R. Marshall; jumble stall, Mesdames L. E. Williams, A. J. Kennedy and Waters. Miss A. M. H. Howell was in charge of the competitions, and the copper - trail was organised by Misses Rogers. T. Williams and Rene Grindall. Street collectors included Mesdames J. Waller, J. Rowe, E. Morgan, C. Cowan. C. Walton, Ray Tagg, Pat Barker, C. W. Stevens, M. Hughes and Shirley Watson. Personal Lieutenant John Mail. R.N.Z.N.V.R., who has been on furlough in Geraldine, has left for further service overseas.