TURUA WELCOME

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 32, Issue 3292, 23 July 1943, Page 5

TURUA WELCOME

BOYS FROM MIDDLE EAST PLEASED TO BE HOME GIFT PARCELS APPRECIATED Thursday, July 15, will long be re- , membered by the people of Turua and the surrounding districts who were present at the welcome to the Turua boys who have returned from the Middle East. The Turua Hall, which was tastefully decorated, in red, white and blue streamers with the word welcome displayed in large letters over the stage, was filled to capacity. The evening was spent in dancing interspersed with humorous recitations by Mr R. McKenzie. Songs were rendered by Mr J. Maunders and two little girls, Misses Miller and Christie dressed in full Highland costume executed the sword dance and later danced the Irish jig, wearing national costume.

The main event of the evening was when the boys were led on to. the stage and welcomed amidst loud applause and the singing of “For They Are Jolly Good Fellows.” Mr H. H. Hicks, chairman of the Turua Patridfic Committee spoke in eulogistic terms of the fine record of the New Zealand boy£ in Greece Crete and the North African campaigns. It gave him great pleasure to see so many present to welcome the boys from overseas and to extend such a hearty welcome. He knew they were as pleased to see the people of Turua as they to see them, with no dust and flies, but green fields and water. The thoughts of all had been with them in their travels and to-night all wish to tell them that they are proud of them and to thank them for what they had done. Everyone, he assured the guests of honour, would give them a happy time whilst they were home. Parcels Were Wonderful Major W. Dickson, in replying, thanked everyone very much for the welcome, saying that they were more pleased to be back than you are to see us. It had put ten years on their lives getting this trip. There were no finer soldiers than the New Zealanders (applause), and it was a great pleasure to work with and be with them.

L.-Cpl. F. Green in speaking said it was a great pleasure to 'see all again and to be back: The parcels received were wonderful and if they could see the boys opening them and their mail they would realise how much they appreciated them.. It was like Father Christmas is to kids. On one occasion six” raiders had come ovei’ whilst he was reading his letters and he nevei’ heard them so engrossed was he in the news from home and friends. '

He brought special thanks from the boys left behind for patriotic parcels received from Turua and from the Turua Women’s Institute. L.-'Cpl. W. Johnston thanked everyone a lot for the wonderful welcome and evening and also for the parcels which were always looked forward to. Pte. L. R. Stone said although he didn’t know many people present he wished to thank them for the lovely evening. He appreciated the welcome given him. Pte. A. Olsen said how pleasing it was to see so many of the same friends to welcome them as farewell them. He 'said he hopedi it would not be long before they welcomed the remainder of the boys from overseas. Mr J. Pye was M.C. Music was supplied by Mr C. Fisher and his Collegians, extras being played by Mrs T. Clark and Mr A. Whitehead.

The Monte Carlo was won by Miss J. Allen and Mr L. Bond. Among Those Present Among those present were:— Misses Sweet, J. Madgwick, N. Hill, A. Kelson, E. Elvin, M. Taylor, I. Death, G. Alach, P. Keen, N. Death, G. Pulford, G. Fox, P. Thrupp, M. Kerby, R. Law, T. Boyd, D. Hill, B. Porter, N. O’Carroll, D. Mules, K. Olsen, B. Beck (Ngatea), Z. Kelson, P. Clevely, M. Ryan, E. Aberhart, D. Tapp, N. Green, M. Gardner, C. Green, M. James, I. Lomas, J. Allen, M. Laverick, M. Murray, P. James, J. Crawford (Thames), R. Tapp, D. Bryant (Thames), D. Kerby, M. Green, D. Griffiths, J. McKenzie, P. Hunter, P. Gwilliam, G. Fox. Mesdames J. Mules (Manawarn), A. Jamieson, H. Glasgow, F. Gisler, O’Carroll, Haligan, Millington, McCollum, F. Olson, G. Wallace, R. Hutchinson, Tapp, F. Loader, F. Hamilton, T. Hammerton, A. Courtney (Ngatea), F. Hayward, Stexens, Symonds, T. Marshall, R. Olson, G. Stone, White (Waitakaruru), R. Hamilton, N. Nicholson, Williams, R. Harrison, J. Miller, K. Fox, C. Scott, A. H. Sutton, J. Handley, G. Vercoe, Drent, J. E. Green, R. Green (Kopuarahi), L.

Schmidt, J. Schmidt, R. Flynn, Christie. Mesdames T. Lowe, L. Jepson, W. Troughton, J. Treadaway, McMachlan, Gray,. H. Mules, H. Elvin, W. Johnston, J. Thrupp, N. Green, Death, L. Pratt, G. Beck (Ngatea), I. Beddie, J. Stewart, Mules Snr., L. Peterson, J. Pye, J. Marceau, W. Clark, McNeil, B. McCoid, A. Bert, H. Howard, L. Law (Kopuarahi), L. James, N. Mitchel, A. Whitehead, J. Kerby, Bush, R. Miller, J. Spence (Ngatea), W. Dickson (Kopuarahi).