Raglan Chronicle

THE RAGLAN

CHRONICLE EST. 1903

Whaingaroa news for you weekly

Maudie's milestone

23rd April 2015 - Issue #440

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Claudia's win at a cost p2 Whats on

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Daniel Kereopa is one of two locals named in the NZ SUP and Paddleboard team.

See full story on page 3. Image thanks to Cory Scott

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2 RAGLAN Chronicle

Local rower storms into Rio squad, but at a cost R MacDonald aglan

rower Claudia was named on Saturday as part of the New Zealand squad heading to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil for the 2015 World Rowing Junior Championships – but success comes at a price.

The 17-year-old Fraser High student impressed the selectors early on at last week’s trials at Lake Karapiro, turning in a personal best of seven minutes and six seconds in 2km erg testing. That was well under the required time of seven minutes and nine seconds.

She also had to compete in eight or nine races out on the water each day, and demonstrate her ability to work in well with other rowers, to clinch a spot in the 22-strong squad.

But now she faces another big challenge: how to stump up with the $7500 it will cost her to go to Rio. Junior rowers must fund themselves, laments Claudia’s mother Lynn. Though junior representation is considered an important part of the Rowing New Zealand high performance pathway, it supports financially only those competing at premier level.

“I don’t know how we’ll pay for it yet … but Lynn added there was no denying Claudia’s selection from the 40-odd juniors who trialled at Karapiro was “a good buzz” and that it had put a big smile on her daughter’s face.

Claudia’s latest success follows on from her boat-length win in the girls under-17 single sculls at the prestigious Maadi Cup secondary schools regatta early this month.

At Rio though she will be competing in the junior women’s quad scull, an event which Lynn explains is all about team work. And this time she’ll be in the same boat as rowers

Claudia MacDonald she’s been up against neck to neck in single scull events.

The junior team is set to start training at the Rowing New Zealand High Performance Centre at Lake Karapiro in about a fortnight. Many of the young rowers like Claudia will change schools to St Peter’s in Cambridge for the intensive twomonth stint, and the whole team will be staying at the Rob Waddell Lodge in Karapiro.

The junior world champs in Brazil run from August 6 to 9 and will also serve as a test event for the 2016 Olympic Games organisers.

Edith Symes Members of the community or businesses who wish to support Claudia's goal of getting to Rio and 'give a little' - can do so at the following website: www.givealittle.co.nz/donate/cause/ claudiarowingrio Look out for more fundraising information, including an 'auction' and 'movie night' in upcoming issues.

Raglan surfers at forefront of NZ talent pool

L

ocal surfing was given a boost over the weekend with Taylor Hutchison winning the Under-20 Boys’ title in the Backdoor GromBash contest, and Billy Stairmand being announced to compete at the World Surfing Games for New Zealand.

The Backdoor GromBash at Raglan over the weekend attracted New Zealand’s top junior surfers who managed to outwit two surfers competing at international level – Whangamata’s Ella Williams and Piha’s Elliot Paerate-Reid.

But Raglan surfer Taylor Hutchison was too strong for his opponents at the GromBash at Manu Bay, taking out the prestigious Under-20 Boys’ title, following on from his Under-17 Boys’ title last year.

On Sunday Hutchison used his backhand attack to notch up a 16.2 point total, edging out Northland surfer Paul Moretti on 15.7.

Mount Maunganui’s Kehu Butler placed third in the final after contesting seven heats throughout the day.

Paerata-Reid came a disappointing fourth in the finals. He has been competing on the World Surfing League (WSL) Australasian Pro Junior Series and currently sat in eighth place overall. If he made the top five he would qualify for the Pro Junior World Championship as part of the Australasian Team.

After placing third in the Under-20 final, Kehu Butler went on to win the Under-17 Boys’ Division of the GromBash, defeating Daniel Farr (Taranaki). Mount Maunganui’s Lee Ririnui was third, and Isaac Kettle from Taranaki came fourth.

Despite a three-hour halt to heats on Saturday due to bad conditions, a mammoth 48 heats were held during the two-day contest.

Muriwai surfer Britt Kindred claimed her first ever win at national level in the Under-20 Girls’ Division and was a stand-out surfer all weekend after claiming a perfect ten point ride in the semifinals.

Kindred defeated Ella Williams, who was taking a break from the WSL Qualifying Series to compete at her first domestic event of the year, with Elin Tawharu (Mnt) third and Tiana- Breeze de Mooij (Mnt) fourth.

De Mooij then won the Under-17 Girls’ Division, her first ever win at national level with a strong backhand attack, beating Britt Kindred in the final. Elin Tawharu was third and Milly Crewe (Taranaki) placed fourth in the final.

Local surfer Indica Ratima made it through two heats to come third in one of the semi-final Under-17 Girls’ heats.

Top: Taylor Hutchison on his way to winning the Backdoor Grombash.

Image thanks to Col / Surf2Surf.com Below: Taylor Hutchison on the podium. Image thanks to Leanne Roughton

The Under-14 divisions were won by Whangamata’s Dylan Preston (boys) and Gisborne’s Kai Woolf (girls).

Raglan’s Kora Cooper made it through one round of heats for the Under-14 Boys’ Division, to be knocked during the semifinals.

Surfing New Zealand, (SNZ) which ran the Backdoor Grombash, announced just before the contest the six members of the New Zealand Surfing Team to compete at the 2015 International Surfing Association World Surfing Games, which start at the end of next month.

The event at Popoyo, Nicaragua would attract up to 150 athletes from 30 countries, said Ben Kennings of SNZ. The team would be led by four of New Zealand’s top surfers who were all currently competing on WSL Qualifying Series – Raglan’s Billy Stairmand, Mount Maunganui’s Matt Hewitt, Taranaki’s Paige Hareb and Ella Williams.

They would be joined by multiple New Zealand representative JC Susan (Dunedin) and former Junior Surfing Team representative Dune Kennings (Whangamata).

Stairmand would contest two major QS10,000 events in California and Brazil over the next six weeks before heading to Nicaragua. Stairmand, along with Hewitt, last represented New Zealand at the World Surfing Games in 2013.

,

Both Hareb and Williams were currently competing on the Qualifying Series with the aim of securing a place on the World Tour for 2016, he said.

Hareb, who was currently ranked sixth, and 25th-ranked Williams would use the World Surfing Games as part of their build up towards their next major qualifying event in Mexico, the Los Cabos Open, which starts just after the World Surfing Games.

The New Zealand team was currently ranked tenth in the world but would be looking for significant improvement in Nicaragua. A top seven finish would see the team invited to the China Cup to compete against the world’s top surfing nations. Rachel Benn

Locals named in NZ SUP and Paddleboard Team

T

wo locals have been named in the New Zealand Stand Up Paddle and Paddleboard Team.

Daniel Kereopa and Arnie Armstrong will join nine other athletes who will compete at the 2015 ISA Stand Up Paddle (SUP) and Paddleboard Championship at Sayulita, Mexico from the 10th – 17th May 2015.

The team will be led by silver medal winner at the 2014 event Sam Shergold (Mnt) who is competing in the prone distance race. With the help of a full strength team in 2015, it is expected that the final ranking of tenth overall in 2014

will be easily surpassed.

A full complement of SUP paddlers and surfers will be a huge advantage to the team as they vie for overall team points and a podium finish.

The SUP paddlers include champion windsurfer JP Tobin (Auck) and ex New Zealand representative swimmer Penelope Strickland (Auck) who have both taken up SUP paddling in recent years as a crossover activity.

Tobin and Strickland are complemented by the experience of Armie Armstrong who will contest the distance race and 15 year old Ollie Houghton (Auck) who will contest the technical race.

Armstrong has been at the forefront of the sport for the past five years and has also achieved success at a number of international events.

In the waves the team will see the strength of Daniel Kereopa and National Champion Shayne Baxter (Chch) take on the world’s best. Notably, just last month it was Kereopa that claimed the title of Ultimate Waterman, in the process beating some of the world’s best SUP surfers.

The eight day event includes surfers from over 25 nations competing in ten surfing and racing disciplines.

B Kennings

WE WANT YOUR STORIES! Please contact us on 07 825 7076 or email us details: info@raglanchronicle.co.nz RAGLAN Chronicle 3

In pursuit of pedal power A first New Zealand partnership local woman has negotiated the

with American electric bike company Organic Transit and intends assembling the bikes in Raglan within the next few months.

Also at H.G Webb House, Cnr Boundary & Victoria Streets, Hamilton

Deb King has set up her company, Quikes, and has imported the first four fully-assembled electric bikes from Organic Transit, after gaining its approval to be the first person in New Zealand to sell the bikes.

Known as an ELF (Electric Light Fun), the three-wheeler bike had a seat, cargo hold, solar panels and pedals to generate power, and was enclosed in a tough carbon fibre and trylon cover made from mostly recycled materials.

It had a 750-watt engine to store power, which had been “dampened down” to 300 watts to comply with New Zealand regulations, and could travel for about 30km on full charge at a comfortable speed of 20 to 30km/h.

The beauty of the ELF - aside from being a fun, environmentally-friendly little vehicle was that it did not require a licence, registration or petrol, only a bike helmet. So there were no additional running costs after buying the $10,000 basic model.

The limo model, with an extra seat for an adult or for two children, was a little more expensive.

She was interviewed by Organic Transit’s chief executive before the partnership was approved. The eco company, which “walked the talk”, also did some background research on Raglan and discovered Xtreme Zero Waste and Soul Shoes.

Deb herself was inspired to sink her savings into the project by Xtreme’s nonprofit business model and its ability to change people’s behaviour.

“It’s daft to use a car. People are so unfit.

And all that fossil fuel. There’s got to be an alternative,” she said.

She also was passionate about cycling and had worked for seven years on Auckland’s TravelWise programme, which aimed at

Raglan’s Deb King with one of her new solar and pedal powered bikes, the ELF. getting children to bike or walk to school, before moving to Raglan a year ago from Bethells Beach.

Since the first four ELFs arrived less than a month ago, the business had “gone viral”, with Deb busy doing demonstrations around the North Island and meeting people interested in helping her achieve her aims.

“It’s almost like a cult following. There’s all these cyclists and environmentalists who have been watching how these ELFs have progressed,” Deb said.

She had already sold one ELF to a Nelson man and had hooked up with Auckland electric bike shop Barbers and Bikes to rent the ELF to prospective buyers.

“These [Barbers and Bikes’ owners] are savvy businessmen, bright young entrepeneurs, that believe the future in the city is in cycling,” she said.

“They think the ELF should be out on the streets and be seen. The more ELFS there are,

the more attention they’ll get. They’re perfect for small business.”

Raglan Cyclery’s Dirk De Ruyssche would be providing mechical support to Quikes, and a workshop would be set up in her garage so she could start assembling the next ten ELFs herself with the help of an Organic Transit technician to reduce costs.

“I think my business will become a notfor-profit organisation,” she said, making enough money to pay staff and maintain the business. “That’s really my vision.”

In her pursuit of pedal power, Deb could envisage people in Raglan even using a “cycle tram” – a 12-cycle vehicle with a driver – to do a circuit between the town and wharf, as well as the ELFs. “I’d like to see ELFs as a normal part of transportation in New Zealand. That’s a big statement, but I think it’s possible,” she said.

Rachel Benn Rachel Benn

Raglan war exhibition unearths NZ first T Raglan Museum has turned up an

he World War 1 exhibition at the

interesting piece of local history – a Waitetuna farmer was New Zealand’s first pilot to join the Royal Flying Corp.

Dr. Fiona Bolden Dr. Rebekah Doran Dr. Mike Loten

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Herbert Cooper, who was originally from Auckland, was farming in Waitetuna for several years before leaving to train at England’s Graham White flying school in 1913. then returned to New Zealand.

He returned to New Zealand and when World War 1 broke out, he volunteered for duty. Cooper became the first New Zealander to join the Royal Flying Corp in England, making the rank of captain and flying with various squadrons until his death in 1916 during a flying accident.

Information about Captain Cooper’s story was included the Raglan Museum’s WW1 exhibition, which was formerly opened on Saturday with a bagpipe call, karanga blessing and prayers in remembrance of those who had served in the war.

Raglan Museum Society president Rodger Gallagher said about 150 people – many of them descendants of those who had fought in the war – came to the opening ceremony, which was officiated by Waikati District Mayor Allan Sanson.

The exhibition focused on the soldiers who left from the district for the battlefields of Egypt, Gallipoli, Palestine and France, and those left behind in Raglan to hold the fort.

It took 18 months of planning by a team of museum volunteers, led by Ken Soanes, and money from Lottery World War One Commemorations, Environment and Heritage Grants to get the exhibition up and running, Rodger said.

The story of the war was told through

The opening ceremony and exhibition was well attended. photographs, artefacts, text and descendents’ stories, with local families loaning many items to the exhibition such as soldiers’ diaries, grenade cases, WW1 horse harnesses and soldiers’ sewing kits.

Volunteers also did a lot of research, with old newspapers being a good source of information.

“In some cases, you could search those [historic newspapers] and find out more than the families knew themselves,” Rodger said.

A large photo remembrance wall and a

touchscreen presentation identified 154 soldiers with a Raglan connection.

“For a start we thought there would be about 50 soldiers, but by the end we had about 150.”

Rodger said the exhibition had already received many favourable comments, including an excellent rating by travel website TripAdvisor, and many local schools were booked in to see it.

Rachel Benn Raglan Museum was offering free entry to the WW1 Exhibition this Saturday, on Anzac Day.

Maudie’s 100th birthday bash a pearler A Walkinshaw

month or so back Maudie confided she really didn’t want to turn 100, but she was obviously thoroughly enjoying herself at Raglan Hospital and Rest Home on Saturday celebrating the milestone with about 40 family and friends.

Resplendent in pearls and a red jacket with a corsage on one side and a “birthday girl” rosette on the other, Maudie sat contentedly in a chair by the window as familiar faces came up to congratulate her, chat and reminisce.

If the scene bore a vague resemblance to a royal receiving her audience then it was appropriate that Maudie’s favourite birthday card, among the many she received, was the one from the Queen adorned with a gold cord and tassel.

There were others from the likes of the governor general, the prime minister and various MPs but “I think the Queen’s one is the top card”, grand-daughter Alayna Ashby told the Chronicle.

Alayna was over from London especially for her nana’s big day, and to see her blow out the candles on the huge decorated carrot cake brought along to the celebration.

It was actually “party no 2”, as

one guest described it, for Maudie had also celebrated with about 30 guests midweek – on her actual birthday – back in her old stucco home on Wallis Street that looks across to the wharf where she used to fish every day.

“This was like her retreat,” daughter Kathy Ashby says of the white art deco-style house she’s since taken over from her mother.

The property’s as harbourside as you can get, with concrete steps down to the high tide, and kayakers and paddleboarders drifting past the front door.

The house featured in the ‘Baches of Raglan’ book published

by Wintec several years ago. “The sea is so close we can fish from the deck,” Kathy explained back then.

“You just throw your line over the edge. You just have to be careful to miss the agapanthus.”

Maudie apparently loved the property as soon as she saw it, buying on a whim in 1992 when she was already in her 80s. It was initially a weekender, but she then lived there fulltime until recently when she became in need of rest home care.

Kathy says her mother, as a founding member of the Waikato Motel Association, has a lifetime of hard work and good memories to look back on. “She was one

of Hamilton’s very first working businesswomen, on her own and with two kids.”

Maudie ran a grand old twostorey guesthouse-cum-hotel in Hamilton East for 58 years, adding motel units then backpacker accommodation over the decades until finally selling the establishment in her 80s.

“She changed with the times,” Alayna chimes in, remembering years serving continental breakfasts with home-made marmalade to guests while her grandmother got the cooked breakfasts plated up all at once.

Maudie also ran another private hotel – Riverview – near the Municipal swimming pool in Victoria Street simultaneously for 38 years.

Alayna reckons that without doubt it’s the combination of work and positive thinking that has helped Maudie through to her ripe old age.

“And she likes a brandy,” Alayna quips.

Kathy says her mother – who has not only five grandchildren but also five great grandchildren and five great great grandchildren – is a little deaf and doesn’t see quite so well these days but her memory’s not too bad at all.

Edith Symes

100th Birthday Bash: Maudie celebrates her big day

Vietnam adventure for local marine scientist Mangrove forests up to 20 metres high, snakes, wasps and a whole lot of mud have been the making of an intrepid journey for three University of Waikato scientists conducting research in Vietnam.

Local Dean Sandwell and Dr Julia Mullarney conduct experiments in the mangrove forests of the Mekong Delta in Vietnam.

Local Dean Sandwell, Senior lecturer Dr Julia Mullarney, and PhD student Benjamin Norris have recently returned from living on a river boat in the Mekong Delta where they were studying currents in the mangrove forests as part of an international collaborative research project.

“We’re studying currents around the roots of mangrove trees with the aim of determining how the obstacles affect waves and currents. The work we’re doing has implications for sediment transport which in turn controls the expansion or shrinking of the delta

as a whole,” says Dr Mullarney.

For the three travellers, a typical day of research started at 4.30am and involved taking an inflatable boat loaded with equipment through the waves and into the mangrove forests at the seaward end of Cu Lao Dung Island. The team then deployed oceanographic instruments in a variety of configurations and completed photogrammetry surveying of the area.

Mr Sandwell says the project was a unique challenge.

“Navigating our small inflatable research vessel through a surfzone inside the trees was quite unusual.

Additionally, several of our instruments are primarily designed for the laboratory so we had to be creative in our methods of deployment. We used Vietnamese fishing boats, kayaks and tree huts as platforms to power and run instruments, which allowed us to monitor currents in real-time at

high frequencies (greater than 50 times a second).”

Last month’s trip was the team’s second trip to the region and it has already become apparent that things have changed since their last visit. “The forest appears to be expanding on one side of the island and shrinking on the other.

In a region highly threatened by climate change and sea level rise, discovering what causes these differences is crucial,” says Dr Mullarney.

The work is part of a USA office of Naval Research funded project.

The project also involves investigators from Vietnam, the USA and the Netherlands.

Since their return to New Zealand, the team has started to examine the data collected and will work to develop a numerical model of the movements of the mangrove forest and water and sediment movement. N Guest

RAGLAN Chronicle 5

6 RAGLAN Chronicle

The Anzacs

We will remember them...

The Flanders Poppy The red Flanders poppy is worn throughout the world as a symbol of war remembrance.

In many countries the poppy is worn around Armistice Day on November 11th but here it is inextricably linked to April 25th, Anzac Day. The poppy itself was one of the first to bloom in the mud and soil of Flanders, the Flemish region of Belgium, an area that experienced some of the greatest loss of life on the Western Front during WW1.

It was in this theatre of battle that Canadian physician and brigade surgeon Major John McRae of the First Brigade of the Canadian Forces stationed at Ypres took pen to paper on May 3rd 1915 and immortalised the poppy in his poem “In Flanders Fields” as a symbol of regeneration and growth amidst such a catastrophic loss of life.

McRae eventually succumbed to pneumonia and meningitis on January 28 1918 having earlier that month been appointed as the first Canadian ever to the role of Consultant Physician to the British Armies in the Field with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. His funeral procession was led by his horse Bonfire and as was traditional of mounted officers, his boots were placed backwards in the stirrups. McCrae is buried at Wimereux Cemetery in France.

Sue Russell

In Flanders’ Fields In Flanders fields the poppies blow That mark our place; and in the sky

Raglan Club Anzac Open Day

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Once again the Raglan Club Inc will open its doors to the community on Anzac day following the service at the cenotaph in Bow Street.

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago We lives, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.

John McRae.

Club Manager Chris Lourie says the club looks forward to hosting the community.

"Once the parade breaks rank we'll be underway with what has been a tradition in the town and this year is the centenary of the Gallipoli Campaign. No doubt the 20 personnel we are expecting from the 161 Battery will be extra keen to set the ledger right in the usual darts and pool competition competing against the locals".

Along with this the club will provide afternoon tea for guests, and the winning students for the annual Raglan Club sponsored Anzac essay competition will be awarded their $1000 scholarships (to support the cost of their secondary education) at 1.pm. As was the case last year the theme for the Year 8 students is 'The Gallipoli Campaign' and please note the winning essay is published in this edition.

From 1.30 pm live entertainment will burst forth as we remember them still!

Anzac Remembrance Service - 11.00am Order of Service God save our gracious Queen Long live our noble Queen God save our Queen Send her victorious Happy and glorious Long to reign over us God save our Queen

Welcome Minister: We are here to remember People: We are here to remember all those who gave their lives in the service of their country during the wars of our times Minister: We are here to give thanks People: We are here to give thanks for the courage and self-sacrifice Minister: We are here to worship People: We are here to worship God from whom we receive forgiveness, love and peace Minister: Let us pray THE LORD’S PRAYER: People: Our Father Who Art in Heaven...

Scripture reading Hymn:

O God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, Our shelter from the stormy blast, And our eternal home.

Under the shadow of thy throne, Thy saints have dwelt secure, Sufficient is thine arm alone, And our defence is sure.

Before the hills in order stood, Or earth received her fame, From everlasting thou art God, To endless years the same.

(Isaac watts, 1674-1748)

Address The offering: in support of RSA veterans and the elderly who require help during the year

Wreath laying: MC calls for organisations individually to lay wreaths Minister: Greater love hath no man than this, That a man lay down his life for his friends The Last Post: A Silence : A silence is observed for a time ………..

The Ode: Minister: Let us pray

National Anthems:

Hymn: O lord my God, when I in awesome wonder, Consider all the works thy hands have made, Australian I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder, Australians all let us rejoice Thy power throughout the universe For we are young and free displayed.

We’ve golden soil and wealth for toil Our home is girt by sea Then sings my soul, my saviour God to thee; Our land abounds in nature’s gift How great thou art, how great thou art!

Of beauty rich and rare Then sings my soul, my saviour God to thee; In history’s page let every stage How great thou art, how great thou art!

Advance Australia fair Whakaaria mai tōu Rīpeka ki a au; In joyful strains then let us sing Tiaho mai rā roto i te pō: Advance Australia fair Ki konā au titiro atu ai: Ora, mate, hei a au koe noho ai.

Whakaaria mai tōu Rīpeka ki a au; Tiaho mia rā roto i te pō: Ki konā au titiro atu ai: Ora, mate, hei a au koe noho ai.

Minister: Let us dedicate ourselves anew to the unfinished task People: In remembrance of those who make the Great sacrifice.

O God make us better men and women, And give us peace in our time; Through Jesus Christ, your son, our saviour.

Amen.

New Zealand

E Ihowa Atua O ngā iwi mātao rā Ata whakarangona Me aroha noa Kia hua ko te pai Kia tau tō atawhai Manaakitia mai Aotearoa God of nations at thy feet In the bounds of love we meet Hear our voices we entreat God defend our free land Guard Pacific’s triple star From the shafts of strife and war Make her praises heard afar God defend New Zealand

The Benediction.

The public to remain until ‘The Parade’ has marched off.

RAGLAN Chronicle 7

GALLIPOLI LANDING

The day the ANZAC legend was born From ASHMED BARLETT British War Correspondent

May 8th 1915

D 4.50 the enemy showed an alarm awn was rapidly breaking. At

light, which flashed for ten minutes and disappeared. Seven destroyers glided noiselessly inshore. At 5.53 came a sharp burst of rifle fire from the beach.

The troops did not wait for the boats to reach the beach but sprang into the sea, formed a rough sort of line and rushed the enemy’s trenches.

After the first struggle the men found themselves facing an almost perpendicular cliff. Half way up the enemy had a second trench, strongly held, from which they poured a terrible fire upon the troops below and on the boats pulling back to the destroyers for the second landing party.

It was a tough proposition to tackle in the darkness but the colonials stopped only a few minutes to pull themselves together, get rid of their packs and charge their magazines. Then they proceeded to scale the cliff without responding to the enemy’s fire. In less than a quarter of an hour the Turks were out of their second position and either bayoneted or fleeing.

The country in the vicinity of the landing appears formidable and forbidding from the sea. It presents a steep front, broken into innumerable ridges, bluffs and valleys. The surface is crumbly sandstone, covered with thick shrubbery about six feet in height – an ideal place for snipers, as our men soon found to their cost. On the other hand, the New Zealand and Australian troops proved themselves adept at this kind of warfare.

Some men who pushed inland were counter-attacked and almost out-flanked by oncoming Turkish reserves. They had to fall back after suffering heavy losses.

The Turks continued to counterattack the whole afternoon, but the New

Zealanders and Australians did not yield a foot on the main range.

Reinforcements poured up from the beach but the Turks enfiladed the beach with two field guns from Gaba Tepe. This shrapnel fire was incessant and deadly.

The warships vainly tried for some hours to silence it. The greater part of the heavy casualties during the day were from shrapnel, which swept the beach and ridge where the New Zealanders and Australians were established.

The courage displayed by the wounded men will never be forgotten. They were hastily placed in trawlers, lighters and boats and towed to the ships. In spite of their sufferings they cheered the ships from which they had set out in the morning.

I have never seen anything like these wounded men in war before. Although many were shot to pieces, without hope of recovery, their cheers resounded throughout the night. They were happy because they knew they had been tried in battle for the first time and had not been found wanting.

For fifteen hours the New Zealanders and Australians occupied the heights under an incessant shell fire without the moral or material support of a single gun ashore. They were subjected during the whole time to violent counter-attacks. The enemy showed bravery and were skillfully led, with snipers deliberately picking off every officer who endeavoured to give a command or to lead his men.

There has been no finer feat during this war than this sudden landing in the dark and the storming of the heights, and above all, holding on while reinforcements were being landed. Raw colonial troops in these desperate hours proved worthy to fight side by side with the heroes of Mons, the Aisne, Ypres and Neuve Chapelle.

Source: The NZ Herald Centennial Record 13/10/1963. Thanks to Felix Davy.

New Zealand signallers stop to help a wounded comrade on a shrapnel-swept ridge above Anzac Cove. In the distance are a transport and two warships.

NZ nurses and hospital ships played their part Some 626 nurses served in the New Zealand Army Nurses Service (NZANS) through the bitter years of World War One and beyond to 1922.

It was a serious business as each woman was sworn to serve for the war’s duration and issued with regimental numbers. On joining the NZANS nurses were also issued with a badge with their nursing registration number engraved on the back.

Specifically, connection to the theatre of war for our nurses, eager to serve their country and support the New Zealand men fighting abroad, began on 15th August 1914 when a small group were sent with the Advance Expeditionary Force. Initially landing in Samoa, for some months because the authorities overseeing deployment of nurses to the front didn’t think our nurses would be needed.

When, less than a year later, the events of 25th April 2015 unfolded and the horror of the casualties inflicted over the coming

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days and weeks began to be realised, the nurses demanded they go and the New Zealand Army Nursing Service really came into its own.

Hundreds of applications for membership of the service were received and on 8 April 1915, the first contingent of fifty nurses set sail on the s.s. Rotorua, now resting at the bottom of the English Channel.

New Zealand’s nursing sisters served in almost all the fields of war in land hospitals and on board hospital ships. Surgeons working at these bases found them welltrained and very conscientious and as the war years progressed their gathering reputation found them sought after, as one British matron when directed to open a new hospital wrote: “I will not mind doing it if I may have some New Zealand sisters”. Another matron commented: “You deserve my trust because you have helped me through some trying times and I feel I can depend on my New Zealand sisters in any emergency. In fact I consider them the backbone of my

hospital.”

Hospital Ships: Floating hospitals caring for the wounded trace back well before WW1. Britain used them during both the Crimean and South African Wars and in 1907 The Hague Convention laid down the rules under which they were required to operate. They had to be clearly marked with while hulls, green stripes and red crosses, attend to the injured regardless of nationality, not be used for any military purposes and be available for inspection and verification.

New Zealand’s two full hospital ships were named the Maheno and Marama; owned by the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand based in Dunedin.

The Maheno was built in 1905 by Scottish shipbuilder William Denny & Bros; smaller than today’s Cook Strait ferries, it was the company’s first and only two-funnel Tasman liner. In 1914, a year before being commissioned for WW1 duties the ship was completely re-engined at Port Chalmers.

The Marama was built in 1907 by Scottish builder, Caird & Co of Greenock. Unlike the Maheno it had the conventional reciprocating steam engines and a single funnel.

As casualties mounted in Gallipoli, the Government of the day pressed both ships into service. Responding to the encouragement of the Governor, Lord Liverpool, the people of New Zealand dug deep into their pockets and responded to the plea for money to ensure the ships were fitted out to the highest possible standards and in good time.

The ships were crewed by a mix of civilian seamen and army medical staff, including nurses. In the ensuing years Maheno carried thousands of wounded soldiers from Anzac Cove to the Greek Islands nearby and Marama entered service just after the Allied evacuation from Gallipoli later in 1915.

By war’s end these two ships had transported 47,000 patients. Sue Russell

We will remember them...

21 Bow Street, Raglan P: 07 825 8669 www.rwraglan.co.nz

Ph: 07 825 8366 Paul 021 1880447 Robyn 021 177 5201

Ph: Ross 021 782 280 or 07 825 8678

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CHRONICLE Margaret 07 825 6847 2 Wallis Street

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RAGLAN Chronicle 9

RAGLAN SERVICE STATION LJ Hooker George Boyes and Co Ltd 25-27 Bow Street Raglan Ph:07 8257170 Email: raglan@ljh.co.nz Web: raglan.ljhooker.co.nz

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5 Wainui Road Ph: 825 7969 or 699 Grey Street, Hamilton Ph: 8554901

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We’d like to thank the 51 businesses who have supported this feature and made it possible.

The Raglan Chronicle will donate 20% of the revenue raised from your support to the Raglan Returned Services Association.

Anzac School scholarships essay competition E

ach year Raglan Club sponsor an essay writing competition for Year 8 students from the area’s primary schools.

This year, the top prize, a $500 scholarship toward secondary school costs, went to Sasha Kirkwood from Raglan Area School.

Second place went to Jorgia Jowsey from Te Mata School, who wins $300 and third place to Shyan Meade from Waitetuna School.

Congratulations.

The winning ANZAC essay

by Sasha Kirkwood, Year 8, Raglan Area School “Come on ladies, the shipping truck will be here any minute! Pack up the biscuits, fold the socks and scarves neatly, throw in a packet of cigarettes”, commanded Lillian to the hall full of women. “The lads’ll love these special packages we’ve made for them.” Lillian 24 April 1915 Dear Lillian, Our big ships have just anchored outside the Gallipoli Peninsula. All of the soldiers are boarding row

boats that will land on the beach right now! The hospital ship will stay out in deep water so all of the soldiers that are injured will be safe and will stay out of trouble. I hope you are fit and well and I hope to talk to you soon.

From your loving husband, William “I hope my William will be alright! God only knows what I would do without him,” said Lillian. Sweet oaty smells filled the air, clouds of smoke formed above all the heads, while needles twisted and looped blue wool.

“The soldiers are so lucky to have such a kind group of women make them all of these little treats!” Lillian 26 May 1915 Dear William, Thank you for your message.

Yes I am fit and well like always. A telegram arrived at Mary’s to say that George had been killed on the 26th of April. Poor Mary! I will be visiting her regularly. I hope this doesn’t stop her from making biscuits. She had the most beautiful recipe! Keep yourself safe and reply soon.

Lillian.

“Dirt erupts and flies all around me. I’m so terrified I don’t even want to poke my head out of the trench. Rivers of white stream down my black, charcoal face from my tears. I thought I was brave, a hero….. but I’m not. I’m scared.”

William 30 June 1915 Dear Lillian, On May the 24th we held a ceasefire and all of the soldiers, Turkish and all, met at no man’s land and dug graves for all of the lives that were lost. We shared food and cigarettes like we were friends and that the war was over.. that did not last. At 4.30 pm shots were fired into the air and the war began again. I’m scared darling, I regret volunteering for this horrible mission, but we are doing it for kind and country. I’m writing this in a trench and people are falling all around. I really want to come home. I hope you’re doing OK. William.

2 August 1915 Dear William, How are people falling all around if they only have scratches and bruises like you told me would be the only injuries? Another

telegram, John from church. You need to promise me that nothing will happen to you alright? I love you deeply.

Lillian.

4 September 1915 Dear Lillian, I don’t want to alarm you but things here are way worse than we anticipated. Bombs go off every night and you hardly sleep.. especially knowing that the enemy could creep up on you. Bodies scatter the ground like brown leaves in the autumn. Rats the size of small cats feed on the decomposing bodies. The smell is unbearable and the only thing I can do about it is try to imagine the smell of your freshly baked apple pies.

William.

9 October 1915 Dear William, I’ve received a telegram saying you are hurt! I hope with all my heart you are and will be okay!

In your next letter explain what happened. Does this mean you will be coming home?

Lillian.

Sasha Kirkwood 31 October 1915 I haven’t heard from you in a while. Please reply to my previous letter soon!

Lillian 12 November 1915 Are you Okay? Why are you not replying? I’m really worried . . . .

A loud knock disturbed her writing – she shuffled to the front door. There he was, in an arm sling, grinning from ear to ear.

“William! I was so worried. I thought you were . . . “ “Shh darling, I’m home now!”

Local students who participated in the Anzac essay writing competition, with supporting teachers and Raglan Club manager Chris Lourie.

RAGLAN Chronicle 11

The Descendants Our occassional series on locals with a real Raglan history behind them

Last Phillips here harbours fond memories of Aotea H Phillips may be a familiar face andyman and scaffolder Laurie

around Raglan but has a background few locals know about these days.

Not that it’s anything sinister; his ancestry’s more something to be proud of.

“Only the old families in the district know our history here now,” Laurie observes matter of factly as he and his Hamilton-based sister Lorraine pore over old photos and memorabilia spread across the dining table of his Wainui Road home.

The 61 year old’s the last Phillips living here permanently who can trace his lineage back to Thomas Phillips, one of the first European purchasers of land in the district back in the 1850s.

Englishman Thomas and his wife Mary, who travelled on to New Zealand after trying their luck during the Australian goldrush, were his great great grandparents and one of the first Pakeha families to settle and farm at Aotea.

Laurie, who’s been back in Raglan about 15 years now after spending much of his working life as a rigger and scaffolder in the South Waikato, has a five-acre lifestyle block on the hill opposite Whaingaroa Harbour Care’s nursery.

It’s here that his partner Lindsey joins him at weekends from Whakamaru, where she works for one of their daughters who owns an early childhood centre. Their other daughter lives in Auckland.

But talk long enough to Laurie and it becomes clear he identifies as much with Aotea as Raglan. “I wish we still had a bit of the land,” he says of the huge Aotea property that belonged to his forebears.

While he and his siblings grew up at their home in John Street and went to school locally, Laurie – like his father – was a lad into hunting, shooting and fishing and “more or less lived every weekend” at Te Reti on that family property. The original homestead however was Waitomotomo, which burnt down and was later rebuilt on a different part of the farm.

Laurie, whose dad was part Maori, talks wistfully of the beautiful views out to the likes of Gannet Island from their marae out Motakotako way, before Te Reti. There’s also a graveyard nearby, called Makaka, where their grandparents and dad are buried,

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and Laurie wants to be interred there too.

The Maori connection goes back generations, to when one of Thomas and Mary’s sons, James – Laurie and Lorraine’s great grandfather – married Moeroa Hopa, who Laurie believes came up from Taranaki as a slave of a Waikato tribe which had been in battle down there. “Maori parents liked their daughters to marry Pakeha men to integrate the two races and stop the fighting,” he adds.

Lorraine, who’s Laurie’s senior by 10 years, recalls that great Uncle Willie was a horseman of no mean feat and they used to have polo meetings “right on the coast there” at Te Reti.

Laurie chips in with a story, which he believes to be true, of Prince Philip “sneaking away” to look at the polo horses there during the then young Queen Elizabeth’s 1953-54 visit to New Zealand. “Heaps used to go out there, including the Home Guard who trained all their horses at Te Reti,” he adds.

Laurie also recalls “we all played rugby” and that his Uncle Bill, a brother of their father’s, became both an All Black and Maori All Black. “He was a winger, a good runner.”

Laurie shows the Chronicle some of the memorabilia – including ancient stone axes, clubs and early types of fishing sinkers – they found as youngsters in the sandhills at Aotea, as well as across Whaingaroa Harbour at Te Akau “when it was all sandhills too”.

“It (Te Akau) used to be our playground when we were growing up in John Street,” he explains. The siblings all had nicknames too, like ‘Brusa’ for Laurie and ‘Snowy’ for Lorraine because she had fair hair – “a real throwback”.

Laurie and Lorraine were just two of seven children brought up at their John Street home which was in the family for something like 85 years, says Lorraine. It was sold only a few months ago when their sister Wendy and her husband David Cordiner – well known in Raglan for having owned the local butchery for years and then both working here as real estate agents – left it to go and live in Hamilton, from where David commutes back to work in Raglan.

The family also used to own the land next door, where Celia and Ken Risbridger now have a home, and a section opposite that was used in the late 1950s/early 1960s as a temporary carpark for new VW Beetles shipped in from Australia. Lorraine believes

Laurie and Lorraine look at memorabilia of their long history in Raglan. they were then driven through to Hamilton to be sold.

While Laurie’s the only Phillips living here permanently, Lorraine’s owned a bach in Long Street for 15-odd years – about the same length of time Laurie’s been back from Mangakino, his base during his years of working as a rigger and scaffolder at the Kinleith pulp and paper mill site.

Historically Lorraine worked in various places about town including a grocery shop called Nicholsons, the telephone exchange and the fish shop on Sundays. As a 13 or 14 year old she also worked at the cabaret (now Orca) soon after it opened, and says that with its jukebox, dancehall and skating rink it was “just the neatest place”. Her husband Mike Jonson drove buses for Robertsons then Pavlovich, and the couple had their first child

here before building in Hamilton.

And Laurie met his partner Lindsey locally, in the 1970s when she worked as a teacher here.

The family did have a big reunion 25-30 years ago, but in Frankton School hall rather than Raglan. Lorraine and Laurie recall “a few hundred” were there, including quite a few Pakehas “who didn’t know they had any Maori in them”.

Lorraine, who helped organise the reunion, says she loves belonging to a family with so much local history. Laurie’s the less effusive of the pair, brushing off what he can contribute to a Chronicle article on him as “short and sweet”. But it’s clear that “learning our whakapapa” – as he puts it – rates highly in his life.

Edith Symes

RAGLAN Chronicle 13

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