Anzac Day events

Dawn on Sunday 25th April will herald a return to public Anzac Day commemorations. During the lockdown of 2020, many chose to stand at their mailboxes in the early morning to spend a moment of silence to acknowledge those who have gone before, sacrificing their own freedoms to ensure ours.

Many will agree that while the Level Four restrictions were a challenging time last year, the community effort has rewarded us with extraordinary freedoms today that make us the envy of the world.

Katikati RSA and Waihī Beach RSA usually hold services, but no information was available at the time of going to print. Ōmokoroa and Te Puna communities can attend the following events.

Ōmokoroa

The Ōmokoroa Poppies on the Point dawn service will start at 6am in the Crapp Reserve. There will be the traditional readings and poems followed by the laying of wreaths. If you would like to lay a wreath, please contact liz@lizardnews.net to register.

In a change to the ‘usual’ schedule, Milo and Anzac biscuits will be available throughout the day at The Old Library Ōmokoroa (TOLO) on McDonnell Street rather than in the reserve. TOLO will be open 10am-4pm showing their Anzac display.

At this stage, unless volunteers can be found to continue organising this event, this year will be the last Anzac service in Ōmokoroa.

Te Puna

There will be a dawn ceremony, and refreshments afterwards, at Tutereinga Marae, Tangitū Road from 5.45am. This is the first time (it was intended for last year but Covid intervened) Pirirākau has been involved in the commemoration of those veterans who served in the World Wars and, sadly, subsequent conflicts.