Southlanders turn out in big numbers
‘‘The names you see on the memorial aren’t soldiers. They’re farmers. And drivers. And shopkeepers.’’
The words of returned serviceman Gwyn Jones, after he attended the the Mataura Anzac service in the deep south, are true of most memorials in New Zealand.
Mataura was one of dozens of Southland towns honouring the fallen yesterday, and while the numbers of returned servicemen appear to be dwindling, it appears the number of people attending Anzac commemorations is rising.
‘‘In a funny way, it’s probably higher than it was 10 or 15 years ago,’’ Jones said of the Mataura service.
Mataura RSA member Owen Patterson said there were a lot fewer RSA members, but he had noticed younger generations coming through.
‘‘It’s good. You know it keep going.’’
Gore’s dawn service attracted about 3000 people, while elsewhere in Eastern Southland, Tapanui service-goers believed it was the biggest they’d ever seen.
In Edendale, at least half, if not more than half, of the hundreds of people in attendance were youth.
About 500 people attended the Winton service, and RSA president Donald MacDonald said the crowds had been growing steadily during the past few years
Ten years ago the crowds would have been about half the size of the 2017 Anzac Day service, he said.
In Dipton, the Last Post was performed outside the memorial hall before everyone packed inside for speeches.
David Shaw had taken his son Justin to the town’s service, and Justin wore his greatgrandfather’s medals.
David said the attitude towards Anzac Day had changed, and he had seen his grandfather open up about World War II later in life.
His grandfather did not attend Anzac services until he was in his eighties, and did not begin speaking about his experiences in the war, until he was in his nineties, David said.
Hundreds of people crossed the will Aparima River bridge in Riverton during the procession through the town’s main street to the memorial.
Annette Horrell spoke to a crowd of about 100 people in Thornbury about the soldiers who left the area to fight in 1917.
In Bluff, those who attended the dawn service were not put off by the drizzle, as about 100 stood to mark their respects.
Spencer Morrison was wearing medals which belonged to his cousin at the service.
Morrison believed it was ‘‘most definitely’’ important for the next generations, children and grandchildren, to be educated and attend the services.
More than 285 people turned up for the dawn service at Orawia, in Western Southland, greeted by mild weather conditions, while in Tuatapere, more than 320 people attended the service.
In Northern Southland, Lumsden’s service attracted about 150 people.
While it was believed there were slightly less people at Te Anau’s service this year, it was estimated about 1000 people attended, many of them children.