Wanaka Pays Tribute To Anzacs

Lake County Mail, Issue 47, 28 April 1948, Page 2

Wanaka Pays Tribute To Anzacs

The Anzac Day service for the Wanaka district was held in the Wanaka Hall, where residents and exservicemen from the whole district had gathered. Padre Miller conducted the service while the hymns were accompanied by Mrs P. E. Forth. At the beginning of the service Mr W. Manson, president of the local R.S.A., made reference to plans afoot for the form of memorial for the Second World War. These include levelling and beautifying of the approaches to the present memorial and inscribing the names of all those who paid the supreme sacrifice in both World Wars. The lists of names would be extended to cover all those who lived in the Wanaka marriage district.

The Anzac address, which was delivered by Mr H. P. Kidson, was indeed an inspiring one.

The speaker referred to Anzac Day as a celebration equal in significance to us as May Day is to European peoples. As a day when we did honour to the noble example and courage of those of our men who in a short space of time had changed from a civilian army to what had been described as “ This Ball of Fire.”

Our thoughts were with those who had fallen on the field of battle and who, had it not been for war, would have been in this lovely spot to-day with their wives and children.

Thirdly, he referred to Anzac Day as a day of stocktaking, and unfortunately to-day, a day of foreboding when even the Holy City was the scene of bloodshed.

Our sacred duty was to pursue the Christian way of life in our own homes, district and country, and by our example show its value as a way of life. We should do our utmost to remove the causes of hunger and misery in the world to-day, for that is where Communism seizes the opportunity to step

We should endeavour to strengthen our Government and not run pleading to it for help in every adversity. We must show our readiness to fight if need be and so support our Mother Country in her fight for personal freedom and the democratic way of life.

At the conclusion of the service the ex-servicemen, paraded by Mr E. Clark, marched to the monument where, after a short but impressive ceremony, wreaths were laid at the base of the memorial while Piper D. Templeton played a lament.

Arrow Borough Council A special meeting of the Arrowtown Borough Council was held on Monday, April 19. Present: —The Mayor, Mr E. L. Thompson, Councillors L. Stapp, J. Henderson, W. J. Shaw, and E. C. Paterson. Apologies were received from Crs J. W. Reed and E. J. Saunders, being both unable to attend the

meeting. The tender of £350 from Breen’s Construction Company for the public conveniences was accepted.