Ceremony marks museum pavilion opening

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 579, 28 March 1995, Page 6

Ceremony marks museum pavilion opening

BY

Michele

Monaghan

After a year of construction, refinement and very hard work, the Kippenberger Pavilion at the Army Museum in Waiouru was officially opened on Friday. Guest of honour for the opening was Mary Weston, Major-General Sir Howard Kippenberger' s daughter. Mrs Weston made a special trip from London to be at the ceremony, a ceremony that was attended by over 1000 people. Sir Howard' s sons, Jeremy and John, also attended the opening. The official guest list consistecj of 550 people and numbers were bumped up by the presence of several bus loads of returned servicemen and women from Taupo and Wellington. There was a high military profile at the opening with the Chief of Defence Forces LieutenantGeneral Anthony Birks attending. The new Chief of General Staff, Major-General Piers Reid, was also at the opening. He is the chairman of the Queen Elizabeth II Army Memorial Museum Trust Board. The Commander of the Army Training Group Colonel Roger Mortlock also stood by to witness the largest event on the New Zealand Army's sesquicentennial calendar. A . 50-man guard of honour was put on by soldiers from 2 Engineer Regiment, Linton Camp. A number of these soldiers had a hand in building the pavilion.

Jack Hinton, New Zealand' s only surviving Victoria Cross recipient, was among many returned servicemen at the ceremony. So was Colonel 'Curly' Blythe, a 99-year-old who has seen six sovereigns in his life time, starting with Queen Victoria. The guests heard moving memories of 'Kip' , as he was fondly called by his men of the 20th New Zealand Battalion and 2nd New Zealand Division during.WWII. They were then treated to a rendition of Beethoven's 1812 Overture played by the New Zealand Army Band accom-

panied by six 105 mm light gun Field Regiment, Waiouru. Mrs Weston then addressed th of her father centred around his extended to reading while mow Mrs Weston stepped forWard officially opened the pavilion de then headed the procession of g sign the visitor' s book before Roimata Pounamu - Tears on C WJ

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