NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER
Office Hours: Monday and Friday (except Public Holidays) 1pm - 3pm
Club Night: Wednesday from 4:00pm to 7:00pm at Bowls Palmerston North Club Rooms Lounge, Linton Street.
PNRSA TRUST
9am - 11am Tuesdays at the Senior Citizens Lounge opposite the Globe Theatre,
Main Street, Palmerston North
~ Mike O’Connor 358 9983 ~ Albie Armstrong 358 6881 ~ Trevor Gillbanks 0221052316
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CHRISTMAS LUNCH
Sunday 7 December
11.30am ~ $25 each
You can pay online (06-0746-0384063-00)
At office with correct amount or see Marj on Wednesday.
In order to get the numbers attending for our Chef’s Gary & Mere
Please pay by Wednesday 3 December.
Dress up in your favourite Christmas attire!
~ MENU ~
Main
Glazed Ham ~ Chicken ~ Roast Pork
New Potatoes ~ Peas ~ Carrots
Garden Salad ~ Bread Rolls
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Dessert
Fruit Salad ~ Ice Cream ~ Mini Pavlovas ~ Cream
~ Presidents Message ~
Greetings Everyone
Quite a lot has happened over the last month.
Joe Hollander has had his surgery but, unfortunately, didn’t go as hoped as not all the tumour could be removed. So, his next option is to have radiotherapy.
At present he is at home and pretty well has to rest up for the next few weeks. However, he is coping well albeit frustrated at the enforced incarceration and would be receptive to having visitors. Keep your chin up Joe!
National Council had its two day meeting and AGM. Overall, I think it was a successful meeting, with a commitment to try to mend bridges and improve the rather tarnished reputation of the RSA as a result of events over the last couple of years.
The new president is Tony Hill who has served more than 30 years in the New Zealand Army. He has served as President of the Cambridge RSA, District President for Waikato, King Country, and Bay of Plenty and as an RNZRSA National Vice President.
The new Vice President is Malcolm Wallace who served in the British Army’s 1st Battalion, Queen’s Own Highlanders, with operational deployments in Belize and Northern Ireland. He returned to New Zealand to have a career in manufacturing and is the President of the Rangiora RSA.
New Kaumātua Ruawhitu (Anaru) Pokaia of Tainui, Ngāti Wairere, and Ngāti Maniapoto descent has been a pillar of the Māori and veteran communities in Ōtautahi (Christchurch) for more than four decades. A former soldier with the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, he served in Singapore as part of New Zealand’s regional security commitment before returning home to dedicate his life to revitalising te reo Māori and tikanga Māori.
National RSA’s finances are still on the decline and this is certainly also due to dwindling membership. The Council is focussed on strategies to attract current NZDF members into the RSA.
A legal challenge is also underway to overthrow the acceptance on version 118 of the RSA Constitution. No one knows how this will play out. Certainly if vs 118 is overturned, there will be a lot of frantic work to follow.
On the more positive aspect, Remembrance Day went off well on the Square on 11 November and this was followed by an update on the Poppy Places Trust at the Globe Theatre.
The Globe Theatre was also to have been the wet weather alternative for Remembrance Day. This would have been far too small – so grateful thanks to Chaplain Paula for her requests for satisfactory weather!!!
Also thanks to Bruce Willis who laid the wreath for the Palmerston North RSA on our behalf.
We had a good evening on 12 November when we attended Gary Fryer’s culinary delights at the Club. This is always great value for money and thanks to Marj Fox for arranging this and to Gary and Mere..
Talking of Gary Fryer, you will see that we have had change the date of our Christmas Lunch.
This will no longer be on the 14 December but on the 7 December (Pearl Harbor Day!) This because of a clash of bookings with Bowls Palmerston North.
So, see you at 11.30am on the 7 December.
Our last Club evening for the year will be on the 17 December. But more of that in our next newsletter.
Enjoy the warmer weather.
Peter
PS: What do soldiers want to know before getting married?
The rules of engagement.
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RNZAF Patrol Dog Calendar
The RNZAF 2026 Patrol Dog Charity Calendar is now available for purchase.
The calendar features dogs from 1 and 2 Security Forces Patrol Dog Sections and comes with a free poster insert.
All proceeds will be split between the Missing Wingman Trust to support aviators in need, and the RSA Purple Poppy Fund to support retired service animals.
It’s available at the following link for $25 each, and can be posted to any NZ address:
https://bit.ly/patroldog2026
COMING UP IN DECEMBER
@ 4.30pm Wednesday Evenings
3 December Yap Yap
SUNDAY 7 December CHRISTMAS LUNCH
10 December Yap Yap
17 December Yap Yap & Christmas Surpises!!
24 December RSA CLOSED
We will reopen on Wednesday 21 January, 2026
Best Wishes to those that are having
Birthdays in December
Ian Bailey, Keith Bell, Michael Earley
MILITARY HISTORY PRESENTATIONS
27 Nov (Thu – MMMHP) - “10th Anniversary of NZDF Commitment to Iraq”, by LTCOL Dr Peter Wood, ONZM, RNZIR
