Te Puke Anzac commemorations breathe life into building

Bugler Peter Cranson plays the Last Post at Te Puke's Anzac Day commemorations. Photo/Stuart Whitaker

Te Puke War Memorial Hall has just been brought back into use after extensive earthquake strengthening work.

It's perhaps just as well the work has been done, as there was standing room only in the hall, with hundreds still outside, for this morning's Anzac Day commemorations.

The day began with a parade along Jellicoe St featuring returned servicemen and women, members of the emergency services, students from local schools, Te Puke and District Highland Pipe Band, military vehicles and members of the town's various Pacific Island communities.

Guest speakers were local historian Christine Clement, who relayed the stories of three Te Puke identities who had served in World War I, and Lt David Williams of the 36th Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment.

Te Puke Intermediate School head boy and girl Atutahi Downes and Alice Masoe and high school head boy and girl Lochie Barton and Ashleigh Ngow also spoke.

Barton said that, at his age, he would have been conscripted to fight in World War I.

''No matter how hard I try, it's impossible to comprehend what it was like,'' he said.

He was wearing the medals of his great great grandfather who was a horseman in World War I.

Te Puke's Anglican minister Reverend Ruth Dewdney led the prayers.