600 ATTEND

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 32, Issue 3291, 21 July 1943, Page 5

600 ATTEND

"WELCOME HOME DANCE FUNCTION HELD IN PAEROA VERY SUCCESSFUL EVENING The joy of the people of Paeroa and ■the surrounding districts in welcoming home the men recently returned from the Middle East was again expressed on Monday night when well .over 600 people attended the welcome home dance held in the Regent and Civic Halls. Although a few of the men were not able to attend the function most of them were present with their next-of-kin and a /thoroughly enjoyable evening was spent. Guests of Honour The guests of honour were: — Major S. J. Hedge, Spr. A. Armour, Pte. C. A. Baker, Pte. S. Baker, Cpl. B. D. Barrett; Sgt. H. Beilby, Pte. J. Bertelsen, Pte. N. I. Campbell, Gnr. T. L. Charlesworth, Cpl. G. Fraser, Spr. J. Godwin, Pte. S. Gosper, Sgt. J. E. Hill, Cpl. R. H. Kilgour, Pte. W. J. Lillico, Pte. H. Lord, Pte. L. E. Masters, Cpl. V. C. Moloney, Bandsman B. R. McDonald, Pte. I. W. Neil; Act.-Sgt. G. F. Sherry, Sgn. R. W. Stephens, Pte. L. W. Stringer, Pte. N. P. Trethowen, Sgt. T. N. Te Moananui, Sgt. W. J. Irwin, Bandsman, A. G. Vercoe, Pte, J. C. Willets, Spr. G. J. Williams, Pte. F. R. Harold, Sgt. A. Alp, Spr. H. A. Moore, Pte. A. E. G. Adams, Mr T. Owen. Both the halls had been very attractively decorated for the function by the pupils of the Paeroa District High School, flags, fern leaves and bamboo, literally covered with large paper butterflies, making a particularly pleasing effect in the Regent Ballroom. Welcome by Mayor Music which was appreciated by all was supplied gratis by the Paeroa Melody Makers in the Regent Ballroom and relayed through amplifiers loaned by Mr E. Kahn to the Civic Hall. The excellent home-made supper was thoroughly appreciated by everyone. The Mayor, Mr Edwin Edwards early in the evening, invited the guests ' of honour to join him on the stage and after introducing every man to the assembly again expressed the pleasure felt by all at the safe return of the guests from the Middle East expressing the hope that their furlougn would be very enjoyable. “For They Are Jolly Good Fellows” was heartily sung by the gathering. Feelings Of People Expressing his appreciation of the large attendance at the dance the Mayor assured the troops that it was .an expression of the joy of the people at having them back with them again .and thanks for the wonderful and plucky job which they had done so well during the three or three and ahalf years they had been away from New Zealand. On Tuesday, continued the Mayor, the people extended to - you a civic welcome and to-night the Paeroa District Patriotic Committee wish to show you their appreciation by entertaining you at a welcome home dance. Appreciation Of All

In inviting all the guests of honour to take the microphone and speak to the people the Mayor assured them that the large attendance merely showed how proud the people were of -them and how much they appreciated the sacrifices they had made and the .task they had achieved. (Applause.) The Mayor spoke of the comradeship which had grown up among the men while in the field of conflict, asthe guests of honour that these friendships would last through the years and become more treasured as they became older. Pleasure To Be Home “We all hope youi’ leave will be very very happy,” added the Mayor as he turned to ask Major Hedge to say a few words. Major Hedge expressed his thanks for the evening’s entertainment, assuring all that he and his men very much appreciated the welcome which had been given them by Paeroa. “We are very very happy to be amongst you once again,” added Major "Hedge. Speaking of the men from New Zealand all of whom had covered themselves with honour, Major Hedge said that they/ had undertaken. any task allotted to them with enthusiasm and all could look up to their exploits. Parcels Appreciated Te Moananui expressed his pleasure at the Welcome which he had been given and for the wonderful dance. Speaking of the Patriotic Committee he thanked them for the good work

they had done, especially expressing appreciation for the gift parcels which he had received, saying, “They were one of the good times we had overseas. Thank you very much for them.” Cpl. Fraser and Sgt. Beilby also expressed thanks for the wonderful welcome they had received, assuring the gathering that they were very •pleased to be back amongst them. Best Of All Bandsman Vercoe said that coming home had 'been a great surprise and a great pleasure as he had known nothing of the trip until he got back from Tunisia. Recounting the various countries he had visited since leaving New 'Zealand he concluded by saying, “Of all the countries I have been in none are so good or so fail' as New Zealand, especially Paeroa. . Pte. L. Masters expressed his pleasure at being home again, saying that it was wonderful to see old friends once again. Those Left Behind Cpl. .Moloney thanked everyone for the good welcome he had been given. Referring to the work” of the Patriotic Committe'e he expressed his thanks for the gift parcels he had received, adding, “Just another word, there are still a lot of felidws left over there, so keep the good work going.” Pte. Neil also thanked the Patriotic Committee for the way he had been treated while he had been overseas and for the welcome back home which he had received.

The Mayor then expressed his personal thanks to all for the manner in which they had come along to make the function such a success. Wanted This Year Speaking of the work of the Paeroa District Patriotic Committee Mr Edwards thanked everybody for the way in which they had answered patriotic appeals in the past and asked for their continued success in the future, announcing that Paeroa and district had a quota of £2144 to find in the present year while £9O was also needed for the despatch of 120 gift parcels for the troops overseas. Mr Edwards concluded by thanking the orchestra for supplying the music gratis and Mi' E. Kahn for the loan of his loud-speaker equipment The programme of. modem and oldtime dances was interspersed with items, the artists being Mrs J. H. Stevenson, who sang “Friend of Mine,” and “Home Sweet Home”; Miss M. McClinchy, who sang “Happy Song,” and “Give Youth and a Day”; Mr B. Whisker who sang “Magic Of Your Love” and “ To-morrow Is A Lovely Day”; Mrs J. L. Brown and Miss R. Smith were the accompanists. Mr P. Caisley who acted as M.C. and kept the evening going with a swing also entertained with comic song*. Winners of the Monte Carlos were Miss M. Vercoe and Mr O. Young aruF Miss L. Bourne and Spr. P. W. Barron. The evening was brought to a close in the early hours of the morning with the singing of the National Anthem.