Changing the guard at Waiouru

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 30, 17 December 1985, Page 3

Changing the guard at Waiouru

Colonel Bruce Meldrum left the top job at Army Training Group, Waiouru, last week after commanding ATG for three years. Colonel Meldrum and his wife will spend the next year in London where he will attend a course at the Royal College of Defence Studies with senior service officers and public servants from 26 countries. The course will cover strategic studies, political affairs, the political-military relationship and area political and military studies, said Colonel Meldrum. The course is held annually and one or two New Zealanders usually attend, but this year he is the only New Zealander chosen. Mrs Meldrum is looking forward to sight-seeing around London, and going on tours put on by the college for the wives of those studying. In Waiouru, Mrs Meldrum has been education officer at the camp for the last 18 months and has coordinated Wanganui Regional Community College courses for Waiouru as well as running a study pool, a library of military books for army courses. Mrs Meldrum has also been involved in publishing the re-vamped Empty Page, Waiouru's newspaper, she has been associated with the children's library and patron of the Waiouru Playcentre, Plunket and the two kindergartens. Bridge is a hobby of hers and she formed a small bridge club in Waiouru. Mrs Meldrum has enjoyed her time in Waiouru. "It has been an interesting experience — it is the one place in the army where you get to know a lot of people who are in the army — in the city you don't meet so many. I think that's the nice part about living here."

As commander of the camp, Colonel Meldrum said he was firstly concerned with the army's training

programmes, however much of his time has also been spent running the camp, which in other areas a local

body would do. However, as in all areas, he has had tremendous cooperation from the neighbouring local councils of Ohakune, Taihape, Taupo and Turangi, as $ell as Waiouru's own local council, Rangitikei County. "Over the last three years there have been many changes, none I take any credit for, but they have made the quality of life in Waiouru much more pleasant. "I'd like to thank all the wives and families — all those who voluntarily look after the clubs and cultural and sporting organisations from the marae to the golf club, there are about 50 of them, and the social worker, medical and maternity and teachers — without those sort of people life would be very much less acceptable." The highlight for Colonel Meldrum at ATG Waiouru came at the end of each year. "Then, along with the staff, having spent a lot of time and effort, we see the people graduate with good qualifications and looking and sounding like better citizens," he said. On their return to New Zealand, Colonel Meldrum will probably take up a post in Wellington.