New traditions at Lumsden; band plays on at Balfour service
It was a case of out with an old tradition and the start of a new one at Lumsden, where about 130 people gathered for the Anzac Day dawn service at 7am yesterday.
While the town could not have its usual three gun salute, it was hoped a new community poppy display would become a new tradition.
Lumsden Returned Services Association president Jim Bottcher said he had received notification from the Firearms Licensing Authority a month ago that the association was unable to fire a cannon at the service because it did not have the correct licences – something it had done for at least the last 10 years.
“I’m unaware of any field guns being used for nefarious reasons in New Zealand,’’ he said.
The association was hoping it could apply for some kind of permit for next year’s service.
Deborah-Ann Smith-Harding and her friends had crocheted about 250 red poppies, which members of the crowd were invited to pin onto a background as music played at the service, creating a community artwork.
She had seen a similar idea at an RSA in Auckland’s Birkenhead and had applied to the RSA at Lumsden to try the idea there.
“I’d like to make it an annual event or a tradition,’’ she said.
Born and bred Lumsden man Niall Keown observed the service wearing his father Len’s coat,. Hs father served in J-Force in Japan.
He had been to Anzac services around the world, including at Gallipoli, and said the service at Lumsden had been good.
Light rain had fallen and it was windy, but not cold. “There were good numbers there and the weather held up, it was a good morning,’’ he said.
Bottcher said he had been pleased with the turnout, despite the fact it was the school holidays.
At the Balfour Anzac service, the Hokonui Celtic Pipe Band gave an impromptu performance of Flower of Scotland after the march to the memorial was delayed by heavy rain.
The sun shone as the band lead the march to the town’s hall, but dark rain clouds on the Hokonui hills were a sign of things to come.
As the service progressed, the heavens opened, forcing Balfour RSA president Murray McKeown to “hold fire’’ and see if the rain cleared.
Band leader Geoff Shanks said his pipers had been playing at Anzac services for at least 50 years. As well as having 10 members at Balfour, others had played at services at Gore, Mataura, Riversdale, Waikaia and Waimumu earlier in the morning.
“I feel proud to play for the soldiers that went away and never came home. That’s what piping is about,’’ he said.
There were about 130 people at the service, including a lot of young families, who listened to guest speaker John Dale talk about his visit to Turkey to retrace the steps of his great uncle who had died in World War II.
McKeown said he was ‘’really happy’’ with the turnout.