For community
says.
Most families will have a connection to Anzac Day, he says.
The RSA usually relies on word of mouth to get people involved.
‘‘Or peer pressure,’’ McBride says with a grin.
Mossburn’s association was established not long after the end of World War II, about 1946. There were 23 Mossburn residents killed in the wars overseas, 10 in World War I and 13 in World War II.
The town’s RSA members get together informally every so often, but regularly immerse themselves in projects to honour those who went to war.
Most recently they planted oak trees along the main road beside the recreational reserve representing each of the Mossburn soldiers who died at war.
Silver plaques and crosses noting the men have been placed on top of posts lining the grass, and a memorial seat was made for visitors to enjoy.
Next up they are planning a way to recognise those who went to war but came back alive.
McBride doesn’t believe they are as well remembered as those who died overseas.
‘‘They mean just as much as those who lost their lives in war. They were fairly traumatised when they came home.’’
The Mossburn RSA is very much a community-based organisation.
Money raised from poppy collections is kept in the town and goes towards welfare issues, McBride says.
Many of the other community organisations overlap with one another. Volunteers of the fire brigade are also members of the RSA, as well as being involved in other goings-on in the town.
Everyone really comes together and supports one another, like one big family.
When McBride’s father, who served in World War II, died, McBride stepped into the role of president.
He has been in the role for about 20 years, but recently he felt it was time to step down. He will remain a member of the organisation, but has decided it’s time someone else was in charge.
That’s where Jim Guyton steps in.
He’s been a member for a while, and now hopes to carry the RSA on well into the future.
‘‘The aim is to keep it going. As long as I can walk I’ll be walking to the [memorial] gates.’’