The Kaipara Memorial RSA is holding a full schedule of ANZAC Day services in 2025.
A Dawn Parade at the Kaipatiki Reserve Cenotaph in Parakai ,with a 0550 Fall-in at the Parakai Pool carpark for a short march to the Cenotaph for a 0600 hour service, during which the RSA, the NZDF and the Kaipatiki Reserve Board will each lay a wreath.
We will then move to the Helensville Soldiers Cemetery where a short service will take place at Sunrise, being 0655 hours, where the KMRSA will lay a wreath at the Cenotaph. Members of the public can place a poppy on their relative’s plaques after the service. Each plaque will have a white cross and poppy behind them. Veterans in the Helensville Public Cemetery all have a large wooden cross behind each one, so they are easily identified. Last year some kind soul knitted a poppy for each and every cross in the Helensville Cemetery, thank you for your kind gesture and mark of respect.
An ANZAC breakfast will be served at the KMRSA clubrooms from 0730 for everyone who has attended the services.
A 0930 service will be held at the Kaukapakapa Cenotaph and Memorial Hall, with a full wreath laying ceremony.
At 1100 hours there will be a Civic service at the Helensville War Memorial Hall Cenotaph, where all the community groups can lay a wreath. This service will be preceded by a street march along Commercial Road, Fall-in at 1045 hours outside the Original Kaipara Tavern, the parade will be led by military vehicles, the Kumeu Brass Band, student Flag Bearers, Veterans, NZDF personnel, NZ Police, Fire Brigade, Scouts, St John Cadets and Primary school kids.
Any organization who wants to lay a wreath at the 11.00am service needs to contact the Kaipara Memorial RSA by email kaipararsa@xtra.co.nz or text President Rex Keane 027 293 2768. Wreaths can be ordered and paid for through the KMRSA.
Medals should be worn on ANZAC Day, if you wear your relatives Medals, which we encourage, wear them on your right side.
Poppy Day 2025.
The annual Poppy Appeal will be held on Friday 11th April, a week earlier than usual due to Easter falling the weekend before ANZAC Day, which falls on a Friday this year. Our Poppy Collectors will be out in force on the 11th of April. Poppy boxes will be in retail stores from early April and the KMRSA will be using our unique QR Code for online donations using your phone camera. A Tax receipt is also issued using the QR Code for your tax refund. KMRSA President Rex Keane says that QR Code donations in 2024 trebled from 2023. Last year the Poppy Appeal raised over $5400, which is transferred to Ranfurly’s Poppy Foundation Trust (PFT). The KMRSA applies to the PFT on behalf of our Veterans for welfare assistance, and the PFT has in return paid over $17,000 to our local Veterans in 2024.
The KMRSA also donated from our own Welfare Fund, a $500 donation to Veterans travelling to the Invictus Games and $500 to the crew of HMNZS Manawanui to help them recover after the Navy (Read Government) only compensated them $1000 each for the loss of all their possessions, when the ship sunk off the coast of Samoa.
KMRSA AGM
The Kaipara Memorial RSA recently held its AGM in the clubrooms for the first time in two years after the seismic strengthening project delayed the clubroom opening by over a year. Rex Keane was elected President, Bill Rangi and Steve Wilson Vice Presidents, and with a full committee. In the Presidents report, the number of members at the end of 2023 was 115 members, after our reopening in September 2024 and lowering the fees to $30pp, there are 231 new members in just six months and a total membership of 346. Rex’s goal of 400 by Christmas needs to be revised to 500 members by Christmas. Remember you don’t need to be Ex-service to join the KMRSA, new members including NZDF personnel currently serving are welcome to join.
