Waitaki District RSA Welfare Trust

12/11/2017

What a lovely story. We also had a lovely couple drop in for the service from Australia.

Occasionally you meet people who make you realise just how dull and uneventful your own life is.
After leaving today's Armistice Service in Oamaru, I spotted a Land Rover laden down with spare wheels and other off-road stuff and it was obvious it wasnt a local vehicle . . . . .
So I approached the occupants.
Haydon Bend and his wife Me-An are 60,000km through "Operation Long Drive" having left the UK, driven across Europe to the Far East where the Land Rover was shipped to Auckland.
Next it's Australia, then North America and finally South America!
Haydon is a former Paratrooper with the British Army and Me-An is an accountant. With his military background, they stopped off on their way to Dunedin for the Armistice service.
We chatted in the Oamaru sun for fifteen minutes or so.
Lovely people. Great adventure.

12/11/2017

12/11/2017

Kelli Milmine welcoming everyone who attended Armistice day at the Garden of Memories.

12/11/2017

Thank you to the Rt. Hon. Jacqui Dean MP for addressing Armistice Day yesterday.

12/11/2017

Thank you Neil Johnston for singing for us yesterday. You have an amazing voice and we are extremely grateful you were able to assist us in your very busy schedule. Mr Wayne McRitchie in the background looking after the flag for us. Thank you men. :)

12/11/2017

Thanks again Neville Cowles another great job. :)

12/11/2017

Awesome performance Callum Bishop.

11/11/2017

Thank you to Oamaru Captured for sharing photos of our grand occasion today. We had an amazing crowd turn out for the day and not only were be blessed by great weather but by all those who were apart of the occasion. Lest we forget. :)

11/11/2017

ARMISTICE DAY 2017
We were blessed with the finest weather and a wonderful turnout of our community to commemorate Armistice Day. Today would not have been such a success without those who gave up their time to be apart of our service as well as the community who took the time to attend.

Sincere thanks to:-

Callum Bishop - Bag pipes. You gave a moving performance of Amazing Grace to start off our service.

Thank you to Kelli Milmine representing the Trust with a wonderful opening address.

To Mayor Gary Kircher and Rt. Hon. Jacqui Dean MP thank you for your time, words and attendance today.

To Mr Neil Johnston who sung our National Anthem and hymn Abide With Me. You leave us speechless with your wonderful performances.

To Father Wayne Healey, a man of such wisdom and a true reflection to the service he lives by and shares with our community.

To Mr Stan Thorn, Welfare Officer for the RSA Welfare Trust for delivering the Ode.

To Mr Neville Cowles for the Last Post and Reveille. For over 50 years Neville has done this justice.

And finally to Mr Derek Beveridge and his ATC Cadets. You young men and woman do a wonderful job for us and are extremely helpful. We thank you all. You should be very proud of yourselves.

Photos to follow.

02/11/2017

We have been working hard to put together a fitting commemorative service for Armistice Day so please make sure you pop along to the Garden of Memories next Saturday morning to share in the occasion.

26/10/2017

12/10/2017

Today we remember those who tragically lost their lives at Passchendaele. Lest we forget. Whilst Oamaru did not have a formal service we lay wreathes at the WWI memorial and the cemetery memorial this morning. Observatory Village also had a small gathering for morning tea.