For immediate release
28 October 2009

Artillery Association marks 75 years

The Royal New Zealand Artillery Association will mark its 75th Anniversary with a parade and ceremony taking place this Sunday 1 November in Browns Bay.

The group has existed under various names since it was established at Devonport’s Masonic Hall in June 1934, as an association for serving and non-serving gunners.

Vice President of the Royal New Zealand Artillery Association, Barry Dreyer says during this time the organisation has worked “in all honourable ways to keep alive the old spirit of comradeship among gunners and extend a helping hand to members of the Association who may be in need of assistance.”

“The 75th Anniversary is a very good opportunity for us to celebrate our rich history and remember those no longer with us,” he says.

Members of the community are welcomed to attend Sunday’s parade, which will be lead by the Band of the Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery followed by veterans and vehicles towing artillery guns.

Marchers will depart from the RSA on Bute Road at approximately 8.50am and travel down Clyde Road and Bayview Road to the Browns Bay Stone of Remembrance on Manly Esplanade.

A public ceremony will be held at the monument, with dignitaries including the Minister of Defence, Hon. Dr Wayne Mapp MP and His Worship the Mayor of North Shore City, Andrew Williams.

Mr Dreyer says as part of the formalities, the last post will be played and a Minute Gun will discharge blank shells to mark a period of silence.

Mayor Williams says it is an honour to be involved in marking the anniversary.

“North Shore City has a significant military history – particularly in the Devonport area – and I look forward to being part of this meaningful occasion.

“It is timely that this event, to remember those who have served in the New Zealand artillery through the years, coincides with North Shore City’s hosting of the Passchendaele exhibition, currently on display at Fort Takapuna – a campaign in which the New Zealand artillery lost many men.”

The ceremony and parade are part of a weekend-long commemoration starting on Friday (31 October) which will see members, from as far a field as Australia and Korea, gathering for a reunion in North Shore City.

In the event of severely bad weather the parade will be cancelled, however the ceremony will still take place at the Browns Bay RSA. For cancellation details on the day, the public can phone Mr Dreyer on 09 307 5692.

ENDS

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