SACRED NZ’S DAY
ANZAC Day took on a new meaning in a time of peace. Most New Zealanders saw it as a time to express sorrow, not to glorify war. It became a sacred day, but one that was secular in tone and less like a mournful funeral.
A PUBLIC HOLIDAY
The status of Anzac Day was not clear until the early 1920s. Peace was celebrated from 19 to 21 July 1919, but there was no official day of commemoration for the war.
The government was prepared to move St George’s Day to 25 April and declare that day to be a government holiday. There was little support for this. Government holidays tended to be religious observances or patriotic occasions, and Dominion Day, the self-styled national day, possessed no emotional appeal.
Anzac Day had strong public appeal. In 1920 the government responded to Returned Services’ Association (RSA) lobbying for 25 April to be declared a holiday. The first was marked in 1921. Legislation making the day a holiday also closed hotels and banks and prohibited race meetings, but this did not meet RSA demands for the day to be ‘Sundayised’.
In 1922 the government backed down, and 25 April became a full public holiday as if it were a Sunday.
NATIONHOOD AND PEACE
The features of Anzac Day evolved during the 1920s and 1930s. Public war memorials erected in the 1920s took the place of town halls or churches in the ceremony. In the process, the ceremony itself became less overtly religious. There were occasional protests from churches, but it was RSA leaders, servicemen and local politicians who increasingly made the speeches, rather than clergymen.
Gradually the service became less like a mournful funeral. The laying of wreaths became more central to the ceremony, and there were fewer speeches and hymns. Uniformed members of the armed forces became accepted in many places as participants in the march and service.
New Zealand’s Anzac Day services began to include new features taken, appropriately, from the Anzac partner. The dawn parade, commemorating the time of the initial landings at Gallipoli and the routine dawn stand-to in the trenches, was an Australian idea. It was widely adopted in New Zealand from 1939 (although some centres, such as Whanganui, had included dawn parades in their commemorations for several years before this). The cold and darkness breaking into sunrise added to the symbolism of the occasion.
Common themes in the speeches were nationhood, national and imperial loyalty, sacrifice and peace. During the Depression, Anzac Day speeches mentioned the ideals of unity and selflessness. As the international situation deteriorated in the 1930s, Anzac Day speeches focused on the need for defence preparations and the importance of not forgetting past lessons. The number marching grew as returned servicemen became more interested in commemorating their war experiences through public ritual. Anzac Day began to take on the features of an annual reunion.
CHILDREN/PARENTING
Te Puke Library: Baby Book Boogie, Wednesday 10.30am- 11am. Stories, rhymes and fun for 0-2 year olds. Read Sing Move Thursdays 10.30-11am. Stories, songs and rhymes and fun for the under 5s. Mainly Music: Tuesdays 10am in term time. Music session, morning tea and play for pre-schoolers and caregivers. Te Puke Baptist Church, See Mainly Music Te Puke Baptist facebook page for updates. $4 per session casual or $30 per term. Pongakawa Playcentre: Tuesday & Thursday, 9.30am-noon, Old Coach Rd. Next to Pongakawa School. Ph 533 3250.
Family Support Services: Social workers available, Community
Care Centre, 100 Jellicoe St. Ph 573-5614.
Te Puke Toy Library: Open Wednesday to Saturday 10am-1pm. Join to hire fun toys. Friday playgroup with an additional feature playgroup on the last
Friday of each month. Coffee and tea provided. 7 Stock Rd St . Phone 027 263 9309.
Te Puke Playcentre: Tuesdaythursday, 9am-noon, 3 Stock Rd (off King St). Ph 573-7537.
Game On Sessions: Wednesdays, Te Puke Library 3.30-4.30pm. A variety of games; board and card games, and our giant connect 4. Everyone is welcome to come along and play, no bookings required.
CLUBS/COMMUNITY GROUPS
Te Puke Library: Knit and Natter Friday 10am to 12pm. Bring your knitting/crocheting along and enjoy a chat with like minded people over a cuppa.
Te Puke Repertory Society: Creating quality community
theatre. Email tepukerep01@gmail. com
Te Puke Community Menz Shed: 48 Cameron Rd, Te Puke. Mon, Wed, Fri 9am -12.30pm, Share your skills & knowledge, learn new skills or redevelop your old skills. Ph Mike Harman 027 444 8559 or Philip Du Plooy 021 756 604.
Pa¯ pa¯ moa Rotary: Thursdays, 5.30pm Mako Room, Pa¯ pa¯ moa Community Centre at the Library, 15 Gravatt Road. Guest speaker most evenings. Ph Vivian 0275495379 or vivian@vledgar.nz Walking Group: Leave from WOMP Headquarters, 2 Dunlop Road. Mondays 10am. Open to all fitness levels. Check Facebook for details. Ph Gillian 027 405 5913.
Te Puke Amateur Radio Club Inc: meet 1pm Saturdays at clubrooms, rear of Paengaroa Community Hall, 4 Old Coach Rd. Ph/text 027 2488 664
Te Puke Young Farmers Club: Regular fun and social activities. Check the ‘Te Puke Young Farmers’ Facebook page.
Te Puke Garden Club: Third
Thursday of each month from 1.15pm at Te Puke Bridge Club, everyone welcome. Ph 573 7248. Te Puke Heritage Group: Council Board Room at Te Puke Library. Fourth Thursday of the month from 10am. Ph. Christine 573 4928 or Dorothy 573 8152 or tepukefamilyheritage@gmail.com. Cuppa and Chat morning: First Tuesday of month, 10am-11.30am. Methodist Church Hall cnr Oroua and Jellicoe Sts. Ph Edith 573 7649. Kiwi Toasters: Every first, third and fifth Wednesday from 5.30pm7pm at 3 Palm Springs Boulevard, Pa¯ pa¯ moa in the Beachaven Family Services room next to the Pharmacy. Enquiries to Chrissy 543 9493 or email c.meyer@xtra.co.nz Creative Te Puke Forum: Meets third Tuesday of month. Community art projects, art workshops and more. More info ph Lisa 027 235 5592. creativetepukeforum@gmail.com Book Group: Interested to join a Friends of the Library book group at Pa¯ pa¯ moa Library. For more information Ph Betty 542 4322 www.fol-tauranga.org.nz
Pa¯ pa¯ moa Sunset Women’s Circle: Meets 1st Wednesday evening each month. Various speakers, craft and activities. Extra outing at times. Non religious. Phone/text Gaylene 027 542 0260. Te Puke RSA Women’s Section: Third Monday of month, 1.30pm, RSA Clubrooms. Ph 573 3396.
Te Puke Scouts: Monday 6.30pm8.30pm, Cubs Tuesday 6pm7.30pm. Te Puke Scout Den, Stock Rd, Te Puke. Ph Jo 021 149 2070, or email: tepuke@group.scouts.nz
Pa¯ pa¯ moa 50s Plus: Support group — meetings and trips, friendship and support. Trips every second Thursday. Meetings every fourth week — Thursday 10am. Ph
Pa¯ pa¯ moa Support Centre, 574 7170. Maketu¯ Rotary Club: Wednesday, 6pm, Maketu¯ Community Centre, Wilson Rd. Maureen 0212671685. Te Puke Kiwicoast Lions: Second and fourth Tuesday, 6pm, Settlers Lounge. Ph 533 4345
Rotoehu, Te Puke Rural Women NZ: Third Thursday of month, Methodist Church 4pm start. Ph Maureen 573 5190 or Margaret 533 3681.
Te Puke Forest & Bird: Phone 575 2662
Te Puke Friendship Club: Meets 2nd Wednesday of every month at Te Puke Bowling Club, Palmer Place, Te Puke. Come with a friend, suitable for retired, semi- retired who enjoy company. Barbara 021 240 2325.
Te Puke-paengaroa WI: Second Thursday of month, 1.15pm. Te Puke. Ph Val 573 7804
Kauri Centre: A day activity programme for seniors. Wednesday and Thursday 10am2.30pm. Colin Oomen 021 135 9090 Pa¯ pa¯ moa Scouts: For 6 to 14 year olds, Mondays, Papamoa Surf Club. Keas & Cubs: 5pm-6.30pm. Scouts 6.30pm-8.30pm. Ph James
542-0318.
U3A Beachside: Learning organisation for older members of the community. Various interest groups. Contact: u3abeachsidebop@gmail.com.
Te Puke-pa¯ pa¯ moa Floral Art : Monthly sessions working with flowers and foliage. Meet friendly members. New members welcome. Janice 021 780 642.