WELCOME HOME

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 55, 26 March 1946, Page 5

WELCOME HOME

ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL FUNCTION

RETURNED MEN THE GUESTS Some twenty-five ex-service-men, all of whom have returned home since Christmas, were the guests of the Whakatane Farewell and Welcome Home Committee, at a Welcome Home Dance held in the Caledonian Hall on Wednesday evening. A crowd, which comfortably filled the hall attended, and a good programme of varied old time and modern dances was presented.

The interior of the hall itself was well and -tastefully decorated with 'flags, flowers, and greenery, whilst the floor, as usual, was in excellent condition. Mr Taffy Atkinson filled the role of Master of Ceremonies, and the Premier Band was responsible for a good selection of •dance music. The Whakatane Pipe -Band rendered popular music for a military two step and a Monte Carlo for returned personnel. This was won by Mr Patterson (Hamil-

ton) and Miss Tong. The winners •of a further Monte Carlo were Mr 'G. Crang and Miss Lodge. Highlight of the evening, was the ■official welcome home extended to the men by His Worship the Mayor, Mr B. S. Barry, Mr L. Luxton (County Council) and Mr L. H. Brown .(R.S.A.). Mr Barry said that it gave him :great pleasure to once again have the privilege of welcoming back yet -•another lot of men who had returned to their homes in Whakatane and district. He trusted that they would very shortly settle down once again into normal life, and that they would have every success in the. future.

For the County, Mr L. Luxton endorsed Mr Barry’s remarks, and -added that should "any of the returned men be foolish enough to • adopt farming as their means of livelihood (laughter), they could count on the settlers already established to lend every assistance. 1 'On behalf of the Returned Services’ Association, Mr L. H. Brown welcomed the men back to their home town, and expressed the hope that they would not delay in joining up with the R.S.A. This body, lie said, was endeavouring to help returned and returning men as much .as possible and he trusted the men present that night would link up with it at the earliest opportunity. Replying on behalf of the meh, ;Sgt. Ken Jarrett thanked those responsible for the welcome home accorded them, and added that they were all glad to be back home once again.

Dancing continued till once again an interval was called in the proceedings to serve a delicious supper. It really was one of the best, and the ladies committees of the W.W.S.A., Red Cross, Women’s Institute and Women’s Returned Services’ Association, which bodies per'formed the task of catering, must be complimented on their effort. Dancing concluded after twelve, the function being unanimously adjudged as excellent entertainment. The following were among those returned men present: J. Buddie, T. Brown, D. Boon, E. Chamberlain, D. Hansen, K. Jarrett, B. Jessup, D. Bryenton, M. List, G. Honeycombe, I. Waldergrave, and R. Samuel. Apologies were received from H. L T. Joll, I. McShane, H. Stubbs, A. Sisam, R. Sax, L. J. Becker, W. J. Barrow, J. Crapp, A. K. Britten and T. Haeusler.