MARCH 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

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ Presidents Message ~

Greetings Everyone

This newsletter is coming out a bit sooner than usual as we have a number of events coming up. Wow! What a month so far regarding events!!

The meal at Chinatown was again a successful event.

Then we had our annual BBQ on 11 March. The South East Asia Veteran Association had asked if they could join us for the BBQ and we told them that they were most welcome to do so. However, they had indicated that about 30 would be attending. The day before the BBQ, we still hadn’t had confirmation of the numbers until about 20.00 hrs that night when they advised that about 75 would be attending! Talk about a flap!

However, everyone pulled together magnificently, with Murray Batten having had to go back to Gilmours to double our order and the ladies doubling up on the salads etc. Thanks also to Leigh Murray and Craig George – our chefs for the night and a very special thanks to Gary and Mere Fryer of Bowls Palmerston North for also stepping in off their own bat and helping with the kitchen, serving and cleaning at the conclusion.

Then we had also scheduled our special AGM to take place that evening to ratify our new constitution. In the end, everything went off well.

The constitution was accepted unanimously and the BBQ was a successful event with the SEAVA members very happy and appreciative. I have forwarded the minutes to National Office regarding the SGM result.

Then last week we had a successful St Patrick’s evening, even though it was a day after St Patrick’s Day. (I’m sure St Patrick wouldn’t have minded!) A number of members turned up wearing green and Rosemary Hollander – who also provided some treats – was voted the best dressed for the day!

On the welfare side, Joe Hollander has finished his course of steroids so will, hopefully, be able to sleep through the night now. Murray has had some good reports from his recent consultation. Unfortunately, Val Lamb remains pretty much bedridden and Gordon Smith has been unable to attend meetings but is reasonably well.

Project Soldier

Project Soldier was initiated about ten years ago in South Korea. This was a project to interview Korean Veterans from around the world. They have been visiting New Zealand and last week visited Palmerston North and visited our two Korean vets in the city; Alan Cull and Tony Smith. They visited Alan and Tony in their homes and presented them with framed photographs of the event. Thank you Alan and Tony for your service.

110 years

On 11 May 2026, the RSA will be celebrating one hundred and ten years since its inception. Initially, the RSA Club Rooms were on the corner of Cuba and George streets – where the current Café Cuba is situated. We did think it would be nice to have a Birthday Dinner at that venue.

However, on contacting them, the logistics were not favourable and the price was too high. So, instead, we are looking at a Birthday Dinner at The Essence Restaurant. More to follow – watch this space.

You will be aware that a group of disgruntled members from some RSAs took National Office to court as they claimed that the vote to accept the new National constitution was unconstitutional. The proceedings began last year and were concluded in January with the court ruling in favour of National Office. We thought that this was the end of it, but no!

They have now appealed against the ruling, so the issue has surfaced again. All this does not do much for the reputation and public perception of the RSA, the main task of which is in support of veterans. So more to follow.

As you will see from the newsletter there is a lot coming up with the Heritage Programme and of course Anzac Day is approaching fast, not to mention Easter in a couple of weeks. We will be representing our club at Linton camp, the Dawn Parade in the Square as well as the Civic Commemoration later that morning. We will be represented at the Bunnythorpe commemoration. This year also marks the anniversary of 100 years since the cenotaph was opened at Te Marae o Hine – the Square so the commemorations will focus on that as well.

Sadly, the cenotaph continues to be vandalised and the Council has spent about $300,000 on clearing away graffiti. Our member Councillor Mark Arnott has been working hard to try to maintain the integrity of the cenotaph.

That’s about it for now – but there will be another newsletter in the not too distant future and thanks to Craig for doing a great job in getting these out to you.

Peter

PS Seeing that we have just had St Patrick’s Day, I’ll conclude with this groan:-

Why do people wear shamrocks on St. Patrick’s Day?

Because real rocks are too heavy.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Check out the PNRSA website to see if I have taken your photo!

All recent events have been loaded onto the website. https://pnrsa.org.nz/

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Joe Hollander has been doing some interviews with Manawatu People’s Radio (MPR) on 999AM.  The following are the timings to air of the latest two episodes:

 

1 Episode 444 (taken 3 Mar 26): To air Tue 31 Mar and Sat 4 Apr 26, 30 minutes at 12 midday – Topics include ANZAC Day 2026 services in Palmy, Centenary of the PN War Memorial/Cenotaph in Te Marae o Hine/The Square, 110th Anniversary of the PNRSA and ANZAC Day wraparound activities within he PNCC area; and

2 Episode 445 (taken 17 Mar 26): To air Tue 7 and Sat 11 Apr 26, 30 minutes at 12 midday – Topics include the RNZRSA and RSA Movement, RSA fund raising and NZ Poppy Day (Fir 17 Apr 26) activities 2026 RNZE CT/ECMC and PNCL military history presentation programme highlights and my credentials.

 

There will be two more interviews planned for the latter half of 2026, covering: Remembrance Day 2026 and the NZ Engineer Tunnelling Company (NZETC) deployment to the Western Front; more about the ECMC and RNZE CT, PNRSA history and lastly respecting our PN memorials (including the Cenotaph, cemeteries, etc)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

PNCC MILITARY HERITAGE/HISTORY, ANNIVERSARY AND COMMEMORATION PROGRAMME FOR 2026

This programme follows on from the approved and successful previous activity listings. It includes the military history presentations known as the “Evening Public Lecture Presentations” (EPLP) and the “Monthly Midday Military History Presentations” (MMMHP) series. There are also “Major City Events” as shown below and other related NZDF and military historical anniversaries, activities, and events. Rather than a five-year rolling programme, PNDHAG members decided in 2025 to follow the annual “RNZRSA Remembrance Calendar” and significant military commemorations and historical anniversaries. Separate invitations will follow and confirm dates, timings, and venues, together with any associated booking, RSVP and/or health and safety requirements.

2026 Programme:

24 Mar – (Tue – EPLP) “35th Anniversary of the RNZAF Deployment to the First Gulf War in 1991”, by Dr Nina Harding, Massey University

25 Mar – (Wed) NZ Army Day (Established 1845)

26 Mar – (Thu) Heritage Festival Histories and Mysteries in the Collections: Engineer Corps Memorial Centre

1 Apr – (Wed) RNZAF Day (Established 1937)

9 Apr – (Thu - MMMHP) “80th Anniversary of “J Force” in Japan”, by Dr David Littlewood, Massey University

17 Apr – (Fri) Poppy Day in NZ

21 Apr – (Tue – EPLP) “110th Anniversary of the First ANZAC Day Service in NZ”, by LTGEN (Rtd) Rhys Jones, CNZM, former Chief of the NZDF and current Chair of the RNZRSA Board

25 Apr – (Sat) ANZAC Day (Dawn and Civic) Parades and Services in Te Marae o Hine/The Square and elsewhere in Ashhurst, Bunnythorpe, Linton Camp and the Māori Battalion Hall (also incorporating Centenary Commemoration of the Unveiling of the PN Cenotaph/War Memorial in Te Marae o Hine/The Square)

8 May – (Fri) Victory in Europe (VE) Day, WW2 (1945)

14 May – (Thu - MMMHP) “70th Anniversary of the Suez Crisis in 1956”, by COL Dr Peter Wood, ONZM, NZ Army Standby Reserve

29 May – (Fri) International Day of UN Peacekeepers – commemorated by all who have served as UN Peacekeepers

1 Jun – (Mon) King’s Birthday

11 Jun – (Thu - MMMHP) “180th Anniversary of the Wellington War (Attack on Boulcott’s Farm on 16 May 1866)”, by LTCOL Dr Richard Taylor, RNZAEC, Director, NZ Wars Study Centre, NZDC

9 Jul – (Thu - MMMHP) “160th Anniversary of the Third Taranaki War (in January 1866”), by LTCOL Dr Richard Taylor, RNZAC, Director, NZ Wars Study Centre, NZDC

13 Aug – (Thu - MMMHP) “80th Anniversary of HMNZS Achilles (Leander Class Cruiser) Being Decommissioned and Sold to the Indian Navy”, by RADM (Rtd) David Ledson, former Chief of the RNZN

15 Aug – (Sat) Victory over Japan (VJ) Day, WW2 (1945)

18 Aug – (Tue) – NZ National Vietnam Veterans’ Day

27 Aug – 70th Anniversary of the Granting of Freedom Charters to LMC and RNZAF Base Ohakea

Sep (dates TBA) – PNCC Local History Week (PNCL)

3 Sep – (Thu) Merchant Navy Day

10 Sep – (Thu - MMMHP) “40th Anniversary of the ANZUS Security Pact Suspension in 1986 (NZ bans Nuclear Ships in its waters)”, by Dr Nina Harding, Massey University

16 Sep – (Wed) NZ National Day of Malaya, Malaysia and Borneo Commemoration Day

22 Sep – (Tue – EPLP) “110th Anniversary of the Formation of the NZ Division on the Western Front and Activities on the Somme”, by LTCOL (Rtd) Prof Glyn Harper, QSM, PhD

1 Oct – (Thu) RNZN Day (Established in 1941)

8 Oct – (Thu - MMMHP) – “NZ Wars Month – 140th Anniversary of the Transfer of the Armed Constabulary to the Permanent militia (by the Defence Act of 1886)”, by COL Peter Dr Peter Wood, ONZM, NZ Army Standby Reserve

20 Oct – (Tue – EPLP and Book Launch) “GEN Leslie Morshead, one of the greatest Australian Army Commanders in the Second World War”, by LTCOL (Rtd0 Prof Glyn Harper, QSM, PhD

28 Oct – (Wed) Te Putake o te Riri, He Ra Maumahara/National Day of Commemoration of the NZ Wars

8 Nov – Remembrance Sunday

11 Nov – (Wed) Remembrance (Armistice and Poppy Places) Day Parade and Service in Te Marae o Hine/The Square

11 Nov – (Wed – EPLP) Remembrance Day- “110th Anniversary of the Engineer Tunneling Company Operating on the Western Front”, by Peter Cooke, Renowned NZ military Historian and Author

24 Nov – (Thu - MMMHP) “60th Anniversary of 161 Battery, RNZA, Supporting 1 ATF at the Battle of Long Tan in Vietnam”, by WO1 (Rtd) Dave Hayward, MBE, RNZIR, former Sergeant Major of the NZ Army and Renowned NZ Author

Other notable anniversaries in 2026:

180th anniversary of the Wellington Campaign in 1846

160th anniversary of the British Campaign in Taranaki in 1866

110th anniversary of the formation of the NZ Division (1 Mar 1916) in Armentieres and the Battle of the Somme

110th anniversary loss of NZ Engineer Tunnelling Company operations on the Western Front

110th anniversary of the ANZAC Mounted Rifle Brigade in action (Battle of Romani – 3 Aug 1916) with the ANZAC Mounted Division in the Sinai-Palestine Campaign

110th anniversary of the first ANZAC Day service in NZ (1st meeting of Provisional Executive)

110th anniversary of HMNZS New Zealand taking part in the Battle of Jutland

110th anniversary the Battle of Flers-Courcelette: NZ’s first day on the Somme

85th anniversary of NZ troops engaged in Greece, during WW2

80th anniversary of the disbandment of 2NZEF and HQ, 2 (NZ) Div in Jan 1946

80th anniversary of the return of the 28th Maori Battalion to NZ

80th anniversary of NZ involvement in “J Force”, during WW2

80th anniversary of Sir B. C. Freyberg becoming the Governor-General of NZ

80th anniversary of the Mutual Aid (Lend-Lease) Agreement with the USA being terminated

80th anniversary of the clothing rationing in NZ being abolished

80th anniversary of the National Airways Corporation (NAC) begins flying operations in NZ

80th anniversary of NZ’s trusteeship agreements for Western Samoa are approved by the UN General Assembly

70th anniversary of the Suez Crisis in 1956

70th anniversary of the Granting of the Freedom Charter of Palmerston North to Linton Military Camp and RNZAF Base (Station) Ohakea (27 Aug 1956)

70th anniversary of the Malayan Emergency: NZSAS begins its first operational patrol as part of OP GABES SOUTH (in 1956)

60th anniversary during Confrontation with Indonesia, HMNZS Hickleton opens fire on a sampan carrying armed infiltrators in the approaches to Singapore (in 1966)

50th anniversary of the appointment of “Sergeant Major of the NZ Army”, created on 8 Dec 1976

30th anniversary of the formation of the RNZALR, combining the RNZCT, RNZAAOC and RNZEME

20th anniversary of NZDF involvement in the war in Somalia

10th anniversary of NZDF elements being deployed to Timor as part of the International Stabilisation Force (2006-2012)

MMMHP sessions are normally held at midday on the second Thu in each month, Feb through Nov 26. EPLP sessions are being held on Tue evenings in Mar, Apr, Sep, Oct and Nov 2026. All presentations will be held in the PN City Library Mezzanine Floor (unless advised otherwise). Other military history presentations by visiting historians and book launches/releases are also programmed throughout each year and will be advised separately. Event invite posters will confirm all timings and venues for these activities.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

COMING UP IN APRIL @ 4.30pm Wednesday Evenings

1 April Yap Yap (Easter)

8 April Yap Yap

15 April Cooks Night Off - Blackboard Menu from Gary and Mere

22 April Yap Yap

25 April ANZAC Day

29 April Members Draw