Rotorua Anzac Day civic service

Rotorua Anzac Day parade and service. Guest speaker Major Pita Anaru. Photo / Ben Fraser

Hundreds have turned out for the Rotorua Anzac Parade and civc service.

A number of schools had students walking in the parade.

Anzac Day parade. Photo / Ben Fraser

Armed police were standing guard at the doors of Energy Events Centre while people filed in and seats began filling up.

Rotorua Anzac Day parade and service. Photo / Ben Fraser

The crowd fell silent as Evelyn Falconer started off the service with beautiful singing and a number of people made their way up to the stage.

Rotorua Anzac Day parade and service. Reporoa College deputy head girl Anahira Ropitini speaks. Photo / Ben Fraser

Guest speaker Major Pita Anaru said "I want to pause briefly to reflect on the events of Friday March 15. 'March 15 would now be a date etched in everyone's memories' said our Prime Minister."

Guest speaker Major Pita Anaru MNZM, E.D., M.I.D., JP (Rtd). Photo / Ben Fraser

Everyone stood together to sing God Save The Queen, children and adults alike, then they sang Abide With Me.

Guest speaker Anahira Ropitini, deputy head girl of Reporoa College spoke.

Image 1 of 17: Rotorua's Dawn Service at Muruika Soldiers' Cemetery. Photo / Ben Fraser

She said it had been a great honour to speak on behalf of the younger generations.

The crowd sings Abide With Me during the Rotorua civic service ceremony. Photo / Shauni James

"2019 is a time for reflecting. 2019 is a time for moving forward."

Bugler Ken Douglas played The Last Post, which rung out around the centre as people stood together.

Major Pita Anaru lays a wreath. Photo / Shauni James

The laying of the wreaths began with Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick who laid the first wreath, followed by Major Anaru.

Pamela Miley-Terry QSM read out the poem Sister written by Mike Subritzky, which was then followed by the crowd singing God Defend New Zealand.

Western Heights High School choir sings at the Anzac Day civic service. Photo / Shauni James

Chadwick said it lifted her heart to see the number of young children who had attended the dawn service and civic service.

Rotorua's Anzac Parade is making its way into the Government Gardens

Posted by Rotorua Daily Post on Wednesday, 24 April 2019