Recognising the tragic human cost

Continued from page 1

“It is also a time to recognise the tragic human cost of warfare and to promote peaceful means to resolving international conflicts.

“Today we reflect on the war in the Ukraine.

“We remember those New Zealanders who have died in this conflict, Dame Winnie said.

“We pray that this conflict can be brought to a swift and just conclusion.”

On reflecting closer to home, Dame Laban acknowledged the Wainuiomata War Memorial which “commemorates our local people who died in the First and Second World Wars.

Hutt Valley.

“Many of our families are now third or fourth generation Wainuiomartians.”

Moving into the present day, Dame Winnie observed: “Today Wainuiomata is going through another time of growth … housing is attracting a fresh group of migrants … Wainuiomata is now a diverse, vibrant, multicultural community.”

The longstanding traditional 6am Dawn Service was held at the Wainuiomata Memorial Gardens (end of Hine Road) where the Wainuiomata Volunteer Fire Brigade provided lighting to illuminate the area for residents to gather and pay their respects.

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“Wainuiomata was then a small, rural community made up of farmers, forestry workers and small businesspeople.

“It was them and their sons and daughters who served in the Anzac Forces. The names of those that died are carved into the memorial. Today we remember and honour them.”

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Dame Winne reminised of the early days: “Wainuiomata has changed since 1945, the end of World War Two.

“My parents and many of your parents and grandparents settled in Wainuiomata in the 1950s along with other Pacific Island and M ori families who migrated to the Hutt Valley to work at Ford Motors, the Gear Meatworks, the Ministry of Works and many manufacturing industries in the

The Last Post and Reveille, performed by reitred Music Teacher Richard Prouse at both Dawn and Civic Services, is always a solemn part of the service.

The 2023 Anzac Parade marched from Fraser Street at 11am to the Civic Service in the carpark behind the Wainuiomata War Memorial Library.

The parade included veterans, the New Zealand Police, the Wainuiomata Volunteer Fire Brigade, the Wainuiomata M ori Wardens, wh nau of the M ori Battalion, Wainuiomata Marae, the Cadets, Scouts, Girl Guides and Wainuiomata High School Student Leaders.

Chaplain Vance Kapene recited prayers, Mayor Campbell Barry offered words of thanks to veterans and community volunteers,

Councillor Keri Brown read out the names of organisations who placed wreaths on the makeshift flagpole and Wainuiomata High School Head Students Kahukura Te Rauna and Lucy Aplin read out the Ode of Remembrance in both Te Reo M ori and English respectively. And Gabriel Tupou led the singing of the Australian and New Zealand National Anthems.

A Wainuiomata Anzac Committee was formed to keep Anzac commemorations alive in Wainuiomata after the dissolution of the Wainuiomata RSA (Returned and Services Association).

Committee members include Cr Tupou, Love Wainuiomata Co-ordinator Anaru Ryall, Pa- rade Marshall and former RSA member Richard Nixon and Wainuiomata Community Patrol Co-ordinator Tracey Mansfield. Some members have been involved with Anzac commemorations for more than 10 years.

They were happy that everything ran smoothly despite having to hold the Anzac Parade and Civic Service behind the Wainuiomata Memorial Hall, due to the Queen Street makeover not yet being completed because of delays impacted by wet weather.

In the words of Dame Winnie, “thank you to all of you who have come today, with your children, to join us in this day of remembrance.”