Their memory and sacrifice will live on
In the dark, cold morning air of dawn, Lt Tim van de Molen acts as the New Zealand Army escort for the Matamata Anzac service.
In the crowd of community members, each paying their respects, are his wife Hilary and baby daughter Isobella.
Tim says the dark, cold and silent hour of dawn sparks some pretty intense emotions. He says he is moved every time he hears The Last Post.
And he heard it three times this Anzac Day.
Tim acted as the army escort at the dawn service, Matamata civic service and the Walton community commemorative service. But it’s the dawn service that moves him the most.
‘‘A dawn service is different, it seems to add more realism. It’s quite a powerful emotional feeling. It’s dark and cold and it’s just you and the people near you.
‘‘There is just that connection.’’
It’s important to both Isobella’s parents that she embrace Anzac Day and all that it represents.
‘‘It’s hugely important,’’ says Tim.
‘‘When we hear the stories and understand the sacrifice they made, it’s important to try and share the stories.
‘‘It’s pretty special. It’s such an important part of building New Zealand as a country, and it’s important to have that heritage passed through the generations.
‘‘It’s fantastic to see in the last few years, with centenary celebrations especially, of the increasing awareness.
‘‘Compared to 10 to15 years ago, there’s so many more young people, it’s grown hugely.
‘‘It’s great to see schoolchildren coming and and laying wreaths – it’s that acknowledgment.’’
Hilary didn’t have the same connection with Anzac Day growing up, but she embraces it now as the wife of a serviceman in the New Zealand Defence Force.
‘‘It has broadened my understanding.
‘‘I am incredibly proud of Tim and what he does with the army.’’
For Matamata RSA past president Graham Waterson, seeing the future generations attending Anzac Day services is equally as important.
‘‘The beauty of it is, the young people getting involved in what is basically their history.
‘‘I love seeing the young people, and their parents here.
‘‘And they are hearing the real facts of what happened,’’ Waterson said.