News Release
Tuesday 17 April 2012

Rotorua’s Anzac Day Commemoration To Appeal To All Ages

ROTORUA 17.04.12: This year’s Anzac Day Civic Memorial Service to honour New Zealand's servicemen and women promises to be an entertaining yet respectful commemoration for local people of all ages to enjoy.

The service, commemorating the 97th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings by New Zealand and Australian combined military forces, will be held in the Rotorua Convention Centre’s Civic Theatre at 9.30am on Wednesday 25 April, and relayed to a large screen in the Banquet Room.

Rotorua District Council events coordinator Amanda Hohneck says the council’s Events & Venues team received positive feedback following last year’s Anzac service which featured a heartfelt opening song by a local school student and other performances.

“Last year we introduced some lighter entertainment to make it a memorable but not so somber occasion. We got a lot of feedback with people saying it was the best Anzac service they had ever been to, so we decided to go with a similar programme format this year.

“We want to create an atmosphere that also appeals to our younger generation so they can come along and acknowledge the heroic efforts of the New Zealand and Australian military forces, and get an appreciation of what their grandparents and great-grandparents did to enable us to experience the lifestyle and privileges we enjoy today.”

The Anzac Day service will open with a ballad from a yet-to-be-named local singer, while Events & Venues’ technical & safety manager Ray Philpot will perform a guitar solo during the service, with the Evelyn Falconer Jazz Quartet finishing proceedings. Rotorua Brass and City of Rotorua Highland Pipe Band, and accompanist Daphne Christophers, will provide music to hymns throughout the service.

Slideshows of past and present New Zealand troops will be played throughout the service and during the entertainment.

The key address will be given by Bay of Plenty district commander superintendent Glenn Dunbier of New Zealand Police and Reverend Tom Poata will be the officiating minister.

The day’s events will commence with a parade of service personnel, school parties, cadet corps and local community groups assembling at the Lakefront at the intersection of Whakaue and Fenton Streets at 8.50am before marching via Government Gardens and arriving at the Convention arriving at 9.20am ready for the service to begin at 9.30am.

Tea and coffee will be available at the Convention Centre for early arrivals and poppies will also be sold outside.

ENDS

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