FEBRUARY 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
We will reopen on Tuesday 10 February at our normal office hours.
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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~ Presidents Message ~
Greetings Everyone
Good grief! Now February is almost over and we are coming into the soldier’s hated month – a long March! (Groan)
This newsletter is being put out in some haste as we need to advise you of our SGM in order to sign off the new constitution and then send it to National Office before we can send it to the Companies' Office.
So, as you will see in the newsletter, rather than have a special standalone SGM, we have decided to combine it with the annual family BBQ on 11 March – see newsletter for details. Also, as Bowls Palmerston North will be having their annual tournament next week, so we won’t be meeting at Bowls PN, instead we will be attending Chinatown for a meal there at 17.45 ( we had to cancel the planned meal there on 18 February) – again see the newsletter for details.
Also 18 March will see a St Patrick’s Day theme.
Other than that, we held a short ceremony at the cenotaph on 7 February to mark 100 years of the memorial. This was low key, but a nice simple appropriate service done. Anzac Day will see a more formal recognition of the centenary.
Joe Hollander has just completed his course of radiotherapy and is certainly feeling drained. However, we hope that the treatment will be successful. Marj Fox has just heard that her daughter is in remission, so great news Marj.
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 Just heard that Trump’s state of the nation speech took 90 minutes!
Trump: The less immigrants that come in, the better
Pence: The fewer
Trump: I told you not to call me that yet
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Annual Family Barbecue
This will be held after the Special General Meeting (See below)
on Wednesday 11 March 2026.
Cost: $5 per adult and $2 per child.
Please pay online or on the night.
Internet Banking Account Name: PNRSA (2014) Inc
Account Number 06 0746 0384063 00
Please add for reference last 4 digits of your membership number and your surname.
All members will receive a complimentary drink at the meeting.
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Notice of a Special General Meeting
to be held on 11 March 2026 at 1745 hrs
The purpose of this meeting is to adopt the new Palmerston North RSA Constitution 2026.
Background:
At the Palmerston North RSA Executive Committee, held on 18 February 2026, the adoption of the latest version of the amended draft document was approved and recommendation made that it be presented to a Special General Meeting for final approval.
This document is available on the PNRSA website for perusal and a hard copy will be available at this Special General Meeting.
Authorised by the PNRSA Secretary Dated: 21 February 2026
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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:
1 Mar – (Sun) Explore Esplanade Day
7 Mar – 12 Apr – PNCC Heritage Month in Palmerston North
The link to the PNCL “Heritage Festival” online programme is here.
12 Mar – (Thu - MMMHP) “21st Anniversary of the NZDF Response to the Indian Ocean Tsunami Disaster in Banda Ache in Jan 2005”, by MAJ Andrew Brooks, RNZAMC
13-15 Mar – NZ Rural Games in Te Marae o Hine/The Square
19-12 Mar – Central Districts Field Days (Feilding)
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)
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
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR OF RSA NEWSLETTER: I have only published a small portion, the rest will follow throughout the year.
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
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.
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COMING UP IN MARCH @ 4.30pm Wednesday Evenings
4 March Club Night at Chinatown, see you there from 5.45pm
11 March Special General Meeting & Family BBQ
18 March St Patrick’s Day Observance, Wear Green ~ Prize for Best Costume
25 March Members Draw