Media Release

11 November 2015
Rotorua’s Armistice Day provides stirring moments

Rotorua Lakes High School student Anita Bentley and the Salvation Army’s Major Rex Rees provided two of the stirring moments outside the Cenotaph at the Armistice Day remembrance service in Government Gardens, Rotorua today.

Present was Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick, who inspected the troops – old and young – and acknowledged the signing of the Armistice at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918*.

Anita, 16, was all gusto as she played Flame of Wrath on the bagpipes while Major Rees played The Last Post and the Reveille on his trumpet.

Her father Graeme watched on proudly as it was he who introduced her to the bagpipes through his involvement on the drums of the City of Rotorua Highland Pipe Band. She is now a member of the Foundation NZ Youth Band while her two younger sisters Louise (a drummer), 14 and Melissa (a piper), 11, are waiting in the wings.

Major Rees, now retired, has been playing the trumpet at remembrance ceremonies for years.

“It’s an honour to do this. You become part of the service, it acknowledges what has happened before and I know people do get very moved at the importance of The Last Post.”

It is the first Armistice Day service since the Rotorua RSA’s closure after 99 years earlier this year.

“Our RSA has faced major challenges this year and is faced with major change moving forward. This is not an easy time,” said Mayor Chadwick.

She acknowledged the work done by RSA president William McDonald and the committee around the closure, sale of its buildings and disposal of the valuable memorabilia once housed in the RSA’s museum.

“I wish you all the best as you continue to reshape the RSA for the future,” she said.

After the remembrance ceremony, attended by several councillors, chaplain Rev Tom Poata and MP Todd McClay’s wife Nadene, guests retired to the bowling club in the Government Gardens for a luncheon catered by the RSA’s Women’s Section.

*At 11am on November 11, 1918, an armistice was signed by Great Britain, France and their allies with the nation of Germany to bring an end to fighting on the Western Front. Since then, the day has been commemorated all around the world as the end of World War I.

ends

© Scoop Media