Christmas Cheer Sent To NZ Defence and Police Personnel

16 September 2011

Christmas Cheer Sent To NZ Defence and Police Personnel

Christmas cards produced by school children from Papakura, Waiouru, Burnham and Wellington’s Mt Cook School are among the goodies in this year’s RSA Christmas parcels sent to NZ Defence Force and NZ Police Force personnel who will be serving overseas on Christmas Day.

The parcels, which include items such as Whittakers peanut slabs, Watties tomato sauce, Anzac biscuits, Christmas mince pies, Marmite, chippies and onion dip ingredients, Jaffas and chewing gum, will be sent to 11 countries including Afghanistan, Antarctica, Korea, Solomon Islands, and Timor Leste.

Over 434 parcels were packed today by personnel from the NZ Defence Force, NZ Police, Royal New Zealand Returned Service Association (RNZRSA) and students from Mt Cook School.

“The RSA parcels bring a small reminder of New Zealand to personnel who are not able to be with their families at Christmas,” said Commander Joint Forces New Zealand, Major General Dave Gawn.

“Our people do a great job overseas and I hope that the parcels show them that we really appreciate what they are doing, not just on Christmas Day, but every day.”

The RSA tradition of sending parcels to troops overseas began during World War I. The annual project is funded by generous financial donations from local RSAs, New Zealand Police, and contributions from the Navy, Army and Air Force Central Welfare Funds.

Corporal Jason Segal, who was helping pack parcels today said, “I received one of these Christmas parcels when I was in Afghanistan. It was fantastic seeing all the New Zealand items; I especially remember the Anzac biscuits.”

ENDS

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