JUNE NEWSLETTER

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~ Presidents Message ~

Greetings Everyone

Seems like things continue to be busy and I have just realised it is time to pen a few words before Craig sends out his newsletter.

Our club continues to function with a good regular attendance at our Wednesday evenings.

Last week, we had a “cooks’ night off” at Speight’s Ale House and the meal was good the company great and overall, an enjoyable evening. We owe Speight’s Ale House a vote of thanks as they subsidised the refurbishing and provision of our wreaths.

A few welfare issues:

Val and Gordon continue to be pretty well house bound. I had a message from Val saying that she regrets not being able to attend the Wednesday evenings but still enjoys getting our news.

Brian Gemmel has commenced radiotherapy, Bruce Allardice has been in hospital and in need of further treatment. Joe Hollander has had some surgery to remove a lesion and the good news is that it is benign. Jeff Watson is also awaiting further treatment. Teresa Gillbanks has – at last – had her surgery. So, our prayers and best wishes go out to you all.

We have had some unsettling news from Inland Revenue, indicating that we may lose our annual rebate as a not-for-profit organisation – this is linked in some way to our new constitution. When we contacted IRD – the person Brian tried to talk to acknowledged that he doesn’t know the legislation and has to refer the matter further up the chain! Happy Days!

Next week is our Members’ Draw – so be there to have an opportunity!

On 15^thJuly, we will have a Mid-Winter Roast Meal at Bowls PN – with Gary Fryer offering us some more of his culinary delights.

National Office has advised that when the Papanui RSA closed down, they had taken a loan from their poppy trust. Such a loan to support the running of the club fell short of both the RNZRSA and public expectations as to how Poppy Fund money should be used. The loan has since been repaid in full, but National Office is conducting an enquiry into what happened and looking at Trusts across the country.

The review is to ensure the commitment of the RNZRSA and Poppy Trusts across the country to transparency, accountability, stewardship of charitable funds, and the welfare of veterans and their families. The review is intended to establish the facts and identify lessons for the future, rather than to predetermine individual responsibility or outcomes.

Some military history comments – on 18 June 1815 the Battle of Waterloo occurred. When Wellington surveyed the carnage after the battle, he commented “ Next to battle lost, the saddest thing is a battle won!” This was also the first time that a medal was awarded to all the British soldiers who took part in the battle.

In the 1970s, I purchased such a medal – awarded to “Francis Stokes of the 13^thLight Dragoons” I was pretty happy with my purchase until some twenty years later, I noticed that what I thought was tarnish was actually the silverplating coming off the medal and exposing the underling base metal. Those medals were all supposed to be completely silver! I discovered later that at that time someone had produced a number of brass medals, had then silver plated and sold them off as the genuine article! Let the Buyer Beware!!!

On that note – keep warm and vigilant!

Peter

PS A salesman approached a potential client and asked: “Would you like to buy a pocket calculator?” “No thanks,” the man replied. “I know how many pockets I have.”

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

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

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Joe Hollander was interviewed again by Manawatu Peoples Radio (MPR) with topics including:

The RNZE CT and ECMC at LMC, NZ Land Wars, 2026 Military History Presentation Programme going forward, Respect for our memorials (including the Cenotaph and our cemeteries) in PN, the history of the RSA Movement in NZ incl the PNRSA history, etc.

This interview will go to air on 999AM at midday on Tue 30 Jun and Sat 4 Jul 26, for those who want to listen. The interviewer was Ann Atkinson of Spotlight Manawatu and MPR.

A second interview was also recorded, centred around: what military engineers (Sappers) do, Remembrance Day, and Poppy Places, and will go to air in Oct 26, with more details to follow closer to the date.

The 2027 military history presentation programme focusing on significant anniversaries and commemorations is nearing completion and once all speakers have been secured for next year, the programme will be promulgated and released, probably around Sep 26.

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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:

9 Jul – (Thu - MMMHP) “160^th 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) “80^th 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 – 70^th 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) “40^th 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) “110^th 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 – 140^th 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. Now Postponed until 2027

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- “110^th Anniversary of the Engineer Tunneling Company Operating on the Western Front”, by Peter Cooke, Renowned NZ military Historian and Author

24 Nov – (Thu - MMMHP) “60^th 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

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 JULY @ 4.30pm Wednesday Evenings

1 July Yap Yap 8 July Yap Yap

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15 July

Cook’s Night Off

MID WINTER ROAST DINNER

$25pp

We need to know how many are coming!

See Marj this Wednesday or Email: otagoteam@gmail.com

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22 July Yap Yap 29 July Members Draw