Anzac Day 2018

There was a lot going on last week, with Anzac Day on Wednesday which helped mark the centenary of World War I’s final year.

Like this photo from Hukanui Golf Club’s Anzac Day sign. Love the knitted poppies. Joy Stokes and Sharyn Cooper add the last blooms.

Then there are the thousands of poppies blazing a red knitting trail along the Te Awa Cycle Way, organised by Waikato District Council and the Ngaruawahia Community House. We went on Anzac Day and it is utterly stunning.

We were even more chuffed to see, in pride of place, one special poppy sent all the way from Fukushima, Japan by former Gordontonian Iris Riddell.

The Anzac Day service in Gordonton Hall was a moving and special morning, with songs, speeches and the laying of wreaths. Local historian Alan Sharp took these two photos.

ANZAC 2018 — Reverend David Smithson leads the prayer.

Here are a few from N8N – we got up well before dawn for this one –

The Gordonton cenotaph was one of the first built in New Zealand to commemorate those from the local district who died in action and served in World War One. The Anzac Day service last week helped bring their stories alive for those now living. Thank you to all who took part in organising the event.