Vietnam veteran Bill Godfrey, 78, leads the last parade by returned and current Defence Force members to the Kerikeri RSA flagpole. Photo / Peter de Graaf
Vietnam veteran Bill Godfrey, 78, leads the last parade by returned and current Defence Force members to the Kerikeri RSA flagpole. Photo / Peter de Graaf
Up to 600 people turned out for the last dawn service at the Kerikeri RSA before its doors are closed for good tonight.
The demise of the old soldiers' club on Cobham Rd — a victim of falling patronage and rising costs — made yesterday's dawn service more poignant than usual, with organiser Frank Lewis' voice breaking as he told the crowd: ''We must never forget''.
''This is hard for me ... I've put 20 years into this place, but we have to move on,'' he said.
Northland MP Matt King, the main speaker, paid tribute to the 18,000 New Zealanders who died in World War I with many more disfigured and injured — and also the 50 innocent people killed in Christchurch on March 15.
That was almost as many as the New Zealanders who died in the Korean and Vietnam wars put together, he said.
Flagbearers from Kerikeri High School and the Royal New Zealand Navy lead Kerikeri's dawn parade. Photo / Peter de Graaf
While the attack had changed the country forever it had also brought New Zealanders together in tolerance, good will and mutual respect.
The former police officer praised the two rural cops who stopped the gunman and prevented further deaths.
''The are heroes in my book, much like the soldiers we are gathered here today to remember.''
King said he was concerned, however, that New Zealanders could face a clampdown on free speech, ''a hard fought for freedom'', as a result of the attack.
Former Territorial David Pou travelled from Whangarei with Binky Pou and mokopuna Illusion, 3, and Adelaide Heta, 5, for the last dawn service at the Kerikeri RSA. Photo / Peter de Graaf
Among those at the dawn service was David Pou, who travelled from Whangārei with his wife and mokopuna after learning the Kerikeri RSA was closing down. The former Territorials sergeant went to his first dawn parade in Kerikeri in 1987.
''There's not many old veterans left so I suppose this will happen — but where will we remember those who have fallen, how do we gather when these places close?''
Frank Lewis, who has organised the Kerikeri dawn service for the past 18 years, with his wife Lynnette Lewis. Photo / Peter de Graaf
Frank Lewis, who has organised the past 18 dawn services in Kerikeri, said RSA members would meet at the Homestead Tavern, where the ode would still be read every Thursday evening, while the search for new premises continued.
The club's overheads were ''out of control'' and the rates ''horrendous'', he said.
''Once the outgoings were more than income we decided we had to move, but we will rebuild. A lot of RSAs are closing down and we need a new model, with smaller premises and more of the younger generation.''
The Malaya veteran was impressed with yesterday's turnout.
''In the last five or six years numbers have built up amazingly. I think it's because younger people are looking at their history, and it's good to see.''
Vietnam veteran Bill Godfrey, 78, left, and Korea veteran Allen Martin, 92, at the Kerikeri civic service. Photo/ Peter de Graaf
The march was led by Vietnam vet Bill Godfrey, 78, who was disappointed by the RSA's closure but believed it was inevitable.
He saved his real ire for the decision to cancel many of Auckland's Anzac Day parades in the wake of the March 15 terror attack.
''It's bloody disgraceful. The reason for closing down the parades didn't ring with me, and wouldn't ring with many of the veterans either. They faced much bigger dangers than that.''
An Air Force Seasprite helicopter flies over Kerikeri's civic service. Photo / Peter de Graaf
No Northland parades were cancelled though all had an armed police presence.
Former Maori Affairs Minister Dover Samuels, another long-time Kerikeri RSA member, said the closure was ''a sign of the times''.
''But the $27,000 rates bill from the council didn't help. I thought they would have found it in their hearts to help keep them going.''
Kerikeri's civic service was led by Rev Pam Harrison-Boyd. Photo / Peter de Graaf
Later, about 250 people attended a civic service on Kerikeri Domain led by Rev Pam Harrison-Boyd, where the highlight was a flyover by a Seasprite helicopter from the Air Force No.6 Squadron.
Since late last year the squadron has been ceremonially based at Bay of Islands Airport. Fifteen squadron members attended the services.
Kaikohe RSA is understood to be facing similar issues to its Kerikeri counterpart. A meeting for all financial members has been called this weekend to discuss the club's future.
