Southland remembers
Throughout the region, Southlanders braved the bitter weather to commemorate Anzac Day.
In Invercargill, the soldiers and cadets wielded their weapons with military precision, while the crowd gathered at the cenotaph did their best to manoeuvre their umbrellas with equal care.
A central figure, albeit on two sticks because the knees aren’t the best nowadays, was parade marshal Bill South, serving in his 47th year in this role.
The man has become a stirling figure of constancy at these occasions, though once again he insisted any part he played in the tradition was little enough compared to the sacrifices of those being commemorated.
When it fell to him to make the classic declaration he spoke the words of the ode with clear emphasis on the second of the four-word conclusion: ‘‘We will remember them’’.
In Winton, the dawn service was a proud moment for former army man Craig Flynn as his daughter wore his medals for the first time.
The Flynn family were among dozens of people who braved persistent rain to honour the fallen at the town’s Anzac Oval.
A private with the New Zealand Army Logistics Regiment, Flynn’s job on his two tours included supplying food and fuel to army personnel and vehicles.
As a 21-year-old going to Timor, he had been nervous and wondered if he would get home.
‘‘It made me realise how tough it would have been for the soldiers in World Wars I and II. Ours was a holiday compared to what they went through.’’
Father Hamesh Wyatt has spoken at Bluff’s dawn service since 2001 and yesterday at Memorial Grove, he stressed war should not be glorified, but those who fought should continue to be remembered.
About 50 people braved the wet conditions. Among them were Navy representatives Conor Monaghan and Taylor Wyatt-Logan, who made the trip south from Auckland.
Monaghan, initially from Southland, said it was nice to be able to pay his respects back home.
In Gore, Fred Sutherland’s voice singing The Lord’s Prayer rang out across the crowd at the town’s cenotaph, even though he died in December.
For 51 years he had sung at the dawn service and Gore and Districts Memorial RSA president Neil Bone said the organisation wanted to keep the tradition going, with a recording.
Bone estimated about 2000 people attended the service at the cenotaph.
In Riverton, parade marshal Staff Sergeant Chris Cubitt’s commands cut through the whistling wind and driving rain.
As servicemen, servicewomen and family of those who enlisted climbed the Riverton First World War Memorial stairs yesterday, the rain stopped, sun appeared and winds eased for about 100 people to hear The Last Post, Reveille, and to observe a minute’s silence.
Cubitt’s grandfather, Private Harold Irwin Evans, was shot in the hip during the Korean War. Cubitt wore his grandfather’s medals along with his own at the service.