B.S.A. Smoke Concert Was Largest Gathering Of Veterans For Years

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 26, 2 March 1948, Page 5

B.S.A. Smoke Concert Was Largest Gathering Of Veterans For Years

Mr L. H. Brown (president) presided at the annual smoke concert held on Saturday night by the Whakatane R.S.A. when about 200 exservicemen attended the most successful function held for some years. The usual toast list was honoured.

In proposing the toast of the R.S.A., Mr Brown appealed to Returned Servicemen to join the Association in older to make it a successful unit of the community and in reply, Mr D. S. Wilson stressed the importance of keeping up membership.

During the course of the evening, the president presented to Mr C. A. Head the Gold Star Badge and Certificate of Merit awarded to him by the N.Z.R.S.A. for outstanding service to the Association. Mr Brown referred to the work done by Mr Head during his 17 years as secretary pointing out how the Whakatane Association had grown, in that time. Musical honours were accorded the toast.

Guests of the evening were Brigadier Conway and Messrs. Cunningham, Mills and Taylor of the Western Bay of Plenty Association. Thanks were expressed to the artists Messrs. Tony Smith, H. Waite, H. Haeusler, H. Carter and J. H. Armstrong.