Students to play role in Anzac services
College students will play a significant role in Anzac commemorations across the Kapiti region.
Students from Kapiti and Paraparaumu colleges will march in the main parade at the Paraparaumu dawn service, and others will perform readings or list names of Paraparaumu soldiers killed in World War I.
Paraparaumu RSA president Chris Turver said many of the volunteers who signed up in 1914 were little older than the college seniors.
‘‘Many of them had just left school and this year’s involvement by senior students is a reminder to all of us that here is a generation which will hopefully never see the harsh face of war.’’
This year’s commemorations mark the third year of the centenary of World War I. Fourteen Paraparaumu residents died during the war, about four per cent of the town’s population at the time.
About 4000 people attended last year’s Paraparaumu services, 2500 at the dawn parade and 1500 at the civic parade. About 200 people attended the Paekakariki service, while services were also held in Waikanae and Otaki.
Kapiti residents have also had a hand in Wellington commemorations - MenzShed Kapiti have put together 1500 crosses, on display at Wellington’s Botanic Gardens until May 3.
SERVICES - KAPITI
Starts at 5:45am at the Otaki Memorial Hall. March to Memorial Park for service and wreath-laying at 6am.
Otaki:
Starts at 6:20am at the hospital gates on Tutanekai St. March to the War Memorial Arch for a 6:30am service
Paraparaumu - dawn: Paraparaumu cemeteries:
Services will be held at both Paraparaumu service cemeteries, starting at 7:55am.
Start at 8:15 on the corner of The Parade and Ocean Rd. March to the Memorial Hall for an 8:30am service, and the memorial address, The Last Post & Reveille at 9:15am.
Paekakariki: Paraparaumu - later service:
Service groups and the public assemble inside the hospital gates, and youth groups assemble outside the gates, at 9:20am. March to the War Memorial Arch for the service.
Meet at Elizabeth St at 10:45am, and march to the War Memorial centre for an 11am service.
Waikanae: SERVICES - WELLINGTON Pukeahu National War Memorial Park:
Dawn service 6am, national commemoration service 11am. Ataturk Memorial Service, 2:30pm.
Ataturk Memorial: OPENING HOURS
The Coastlands Aquatic Centre will open at 1pm. The libraries, Kapiti Coast District Council civic building and service centres, Kapiti i-SITE and Waikanae Community Information Centre will be closed all day. Kerbside recycling will run as normal.