Teen joins board of his local RSA
He’s never been a soldier and hopefully will never know war, but 16-year-old Leyton Wright is a member of his local Returned and Services Association (RSA).
The Kaiapoi teen is one of only a few high school students to become a member of an RSA executive board in New Zealand.
Kaiapoi RSA president Neill Price said he approached Kaiapoi High School principal Bruce Kearney about getting students involved with the RSA.
‘‘Bruce said to me ‘I know just the person for the job’.
‘‘He was right – Leyton has been great and is a really important part of our club and our executive. He attends all our meetings and he gets involved in the discussions and ideas. The only thing he doesn’t have is a vote.
‘‘We are proud to have Leyton on board. It’s . . . quite an achievement.’’
Leyton, a year 11 student and an air cadet in the Air Training Corps with 88 Rangiora Squadron, relishes his role at the RSA.
‘‘It has been a completely different experience. I really enjoyed learning more about what the RSA does and meeting people on the executive. I have also really enjoyed getting to hear all their stories,’’ he said.
Price said it was important to get ‘‘new blood’’ into the club. ‘‘RSAs are like a family. We have for years provided support to soldiers and their families. That support has come in many different formats, from counselling and guidance to financial support and friendship.
‘‘But if we continued to rely solely on returned soldiers for our memberships then it’s a dying organisation.’’
Price said Leyton is a popular member of the club.
‘‘His input is valued by the executive. I’d give him jobs to do, communicating between the RSA and the school for things such as Armistice Day and he’s been brilliant.
‘‘He’s able to help us get the message out there of what the RSA is about and also what it can do for young people and the community.
‘‘He’s very well liked, the ladies think he’s the best looking member we’ve ever had.’’
Leyton said he enjoyed bringing a youthful perspective to the RSA, and felt it had been a ‘‘good character builder’’ for him.
The teen is learning to fly light aircraft, chiefly the Tecnam P92, with the Canterbury Recreational Aero Club and at Rangiora Airfield.
Defence and Veterans Minister Ron Mark spoke at the opening of the refurbished Rangiora RSA last week.
He said RSAs would fold if they did not modernise and work with their communities. ‘‘Young people like Leyton represent exactly who local RSAs need on board to thrive in the modern world.’’