Some of the motorcyclists and members of the community standing outside the church for the wreath-laying part of the service.
About 20 motorcyclists and their partners joined residents, RSA members and the clergy at Pukeatua War Memorial Church on Sunday for the 2023 Anzac memorial service.
The church is one of just two in New Zealand built as a memorial to service personnel lost in World War 1 and 11. The other is at Tutira, north of Napier, and both have historic building covenants over them.
For the past few years, members of the Hauraki Chapter of the Patriots Defence Force Motorcycle Club have travelled from around the central North Island to attend the annual Anzac service at Pukeatua War Memorial Church. Mike Neville, the Patriots’ spokesman on Sunday, said club members had come from as far afield as Rotorua, Tauranga and Hamilton for this year’s service, most of them meeting up in Putaruru before riding on to the church.
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- Margaret Main reaches down to position the wreath from Pukeatua War Memorial Church.
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- Martha Bradstreet laid a wreath on behalf of Pukeatua Playcentre.
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- The three wreaths laid at the cenotaph on Sunday were from the church committee, the RSA and the Pukeatua Playcentre.
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- Te Awamutu RSA president Peter Watson watches as RSA executive member Adan Te Huia lays a wreath at the Pukeatua War Memorial Church cenotaph.
“We’re all ex or current servicemen and we’ve lost a few of our own over the years. Our club shares an affinity with those who were lost in the wars, so we’ll keep coming here to pay our respects,” he said. “We have also contributed towards this church over time, helping them with a lead-light window and a brass plaque.”
The service was conducted by Te Awamutu RSA padre, Rev Murray Olson, assisted by lay minister Kathie Claypole.
Rev Olson paid tribute to those “who went overseas to fight for freedom and who never returned”, and to those whose lives and communities were forever changed by the experience. He also acknowledged the men and women involved in areas of conflict subsequent to the world wars, and those serving today.
“Each year the poppy reminds us to remember those men and women who gave up so much in World War One, and in many wars since, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice. It should remind us to pray for world peace, so that war becomes outdated.”
After the service, several wreaths were laid at the cenotaph, around which four members of the Te Awamutu Community Cadet Unit stood guard.
One wreath was laid by Te Awamutu RSA president Peter Watson, another by Margaret Main, chairman of the church committee, and a third by Martha Bradstreet on behalf of Pukeatua Playcentre.
The service ended with a lament played on the bagpipes by Te Kuiti and Districts Pipe Band member, Craig Wards, and those attending laid sprigs of rosemary at the cenotaph.
