Mac McCallion, left, and Kyle Dalton with some of the RSA's poppy boxes that are bound for local businesses. Photo / Bevan Conley
Mac McCallion, left, and Kyle Dalton with some of the RSA's poppy boxes that are bound for local businesses. Photo / Bevan Conley
Anzac Day events in Whanganui will return this year, after the Covid-19 pandemic forced both the dawn parade and annual poppy appeal to be held virtually in 2020.
But dwindling RSA memberships mean New Zealand's longest running dawn service (since 1935) will be more of a community-led event than ever.
"The RSA Welfare Trust only has five members, so gone are the days where there was a president, an executive, and a committee that we could call upon to go out and volunteer," Whanganui dawn parade event co-ordinator Kyle Dalton said.
He and RSA welfare officer Mac McCallion were busy on Thursday morning, preparing boxes of poppies to be dropped off to local businesses retailers.
"The brass bands, the aero club, and the pipes and drums all know what they're doing, and we're in the final process now of cementing everything and creating a template that we can roll out each year," Dalton said.
McCallion said the RSA had struggled to attract new members post the Vietnam War, despite the fact that between 30,000 and 40,000 New Zealanders had served overseas in places like Afghanistan, Iraq, the Soloman Island, and Timor-Leste since that conflict.
"It's very hard to get these people involved, but we're really putting an effort into catching up with some of the younger fellas," McCallion said.
"When I came back from Vietnam, people said I was a veteran, and I would say 'What? I'm too young to be a veteran'. I think that's the same mentality of a lot of the younger generation now, which I can understand.
"People are busy with young families and jobs, so that comes into it as well. They might even think 'why would I want to come down and talk to those old jokers?'
"These are all things we're trying to overcome."
The dawn parade begins at 5.10am outside the Davis Library at Pukenamu Queens Park. Photo / Lewis Gardner
Dalton said the dawn parade had lost "a bit of impetus" since the centenary commemoration of World War I in 2015, when 12,000 people attended the dawn parade.
"One in four people in Whanganui was at the dawn parade that year. We're expecting around 4000 people this time around.
"The only major change for this year's dawn parade will be the serving of traditional rum and coffee and the Anzac breakfast, which will now be at Club Metro instead of the War Memorial Centre.
"Again, that comes down to manpower."
The dawn parade assembles outside the Davis Library (Pukenamu Queen's Park) at 5.10am, followed by a march to the War Memorial Centre where the ceremony will begin at 5.30am.
Mainstreet Whanganui general manager Des Warahi said the Watt Fountain would be lit up with the Anzac colours of red and white, with crosses to be placed in the city's CBD to commemorate the fallen.
"Each of those crosses will have an RSA poppy on them," Warahi said.
"We'll also be working with our businesses to do some window displays."
Some of the Mainstreet cleaning machines had been in operation during the 2019 dawn service, Warahi said, and could be heard during the moments of silence.
"That's not going to happen this year. The boys will be having a smoko during that time.
"It's a respectful thing."
Warahi, who served in the New Zealand Army, said it was up to younger people in the community to continue the Anzac Day tradition.
"It's a time when we need to reflect, and seeing all those young people at the dawn service in 2019 was fantastic.
"I've said to the RSA guys that we're only down the road, and we're happy to help wherever we can."
Sixty-eight Poppy Appeal boxes will be spread across Whanganui leading up to Anzac Day on April 25, and proceeds are used to support current and ex-service men and women, including the NZ Police, and their dependants, living in the community where the funds are raised.
Nine collection stands will be in operation on Friday, April 23, with local army, navy, and Airforce cadets operating a further five the following day.
