SUNDAY RALLY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 57, 25 May 1942, Page 5

SUNDAY RALLY

FIRST 'AWAKE' SOCIAL -AN INTERESTING PROGRAMME The first of what it is hoped will become a fortnightly series l of Sunday evening rallies, sponsored by the local committee of the 'Awake New Zealand' campaign took place last evening in the Caledonian Hall, when approximately 150 people attended. 'The programme was interesting andi novel, and certainly should achieve the objective of the campaign viz., the lifting of the civilian morale and the focussing of greater attention upon the activities of the Home Guard. Throughout there was a cordial note, which the committee -found most encouraging and which it will be its honest endeavour to • cultivate in future. The periods of community singing, rwith. Mr E. Hayden as' song leader, and. Mr Colin W T allace at the piano "were warmly welcome as was ten -minutes devoted to the reading of -extracts of the local men now serving overseas. Ron Rowson's description of his capture in Libya and sub- ;• sequent rescue made good reading . as did Bert Norman's; happy description of "a bath in the desert." AndreAV Coutts now serving with the R.A.F. wrote from England as did Sgt. Gnr. Bill Henderson. Gordon Tippett from Stalag XVIII a prison . -camp wrote from Germany express- : ing his pleasure at receiving Red ' Cross parcels and also giving his . impressions. The chairman of the local com- : mittee, Mr L. Buddie, opened the programme with a brief resume of the objects of the campaign, emphasising the fact that its first duty was to assist the Home Guard to the j /utmost and to arouse the people gen- • erally to the position asi presented -by the Pacific war to-day. He announced that the movement had no ■political significance whatsoever but -■aimed at. bringing all together to attain a common end. He concluded with, the quotation: .For the cause that needs assistance ; For the foe that needs resistance For the future in the distance Andi the good that we can do. The proceedings were in the capable hands of Mr Ted Hayden who .acted as announcer. Items: by the following were widely appreciated: ..Solos, Dr Fletcher Cole, 'Up Guards . andi at 'em'; Volin solos, Mrs J. Larimer; Elocutionary, Mrs E. Armstrong; Period Chalk Talk (lightning ..sketches), Mr H. Hauesler.