110 years ago, people around the country gathered in their local communities to commemorate New Zealand's first national-level tragedy: the casualty count from the Gallipoli landings. Families from almost every community, social status, and ethnicity were affected by these losses, creating the legend that the national consciousness of New Zealand had been created by the trauma of the war and Gallipoli in particular.
Since that time, ANZAC Day, and the RSA movement, also established that year, have been part of the DNA of our country. ANZAC Day has become New Zealand's second National Day, a day shared with Australia and to a lesser extent Britain, France, and Turkey, while the "Razzas" have been the centre of many communities. The ups and downs of ANZAC Day and the RSA movement over the years and through the various wars of the 20th and 21st centuries will be covered in this presentation.
Presented by LTGEN (Rtd) Rhys Jones, CNZM, former Chief of the NZDF and current RNZRSA Board Chair.
Co- hosted by RNZE CT/ECMC and Palmerston North City Library.
Donations to the RNZE Charitable Trust would be appreciated.
Image: Allen Studios. (1918). World War One fundraising procession, [Photograph]. 2007N_Char7_WAR_0019, Manawatū Heritage
