21 April 2016

Local weaver’s work to feature in ANZAC services

An ANZAC themed piece of art created by local weaver Lee Marjoribanks features in Rotorua’s commemorations starting tonight.

The waikawa is a basket woven to represent the shapes of the ships that transported kiwis to war and brought them home. It will remain at the base of the Cenotaph in Government Gardens as a place for poppies to be left for our fallen soldiers.

The story that Lee has told with the waikawa’s designs and colour represents the sadness felt during wartime, the bonds of brotherhood and sacrifice while the carved river stones, kohatu that anchor the waikawa become the turangawaewae, a standing place for all that have served our country at war throughout history.

It has been a century since the first ANZAC Day services were held in New Zealand which now commemorate the 30,000 plus kiwis who have died serving New Zealand at war since 1899.

For those wanting to attend an ANZAC Day service in Rotorua district it will mean an early start with the Dawn Parade timed to coincide with the initial landings at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. Held at the Muruika War cemetery in Ohinemutu attendees can watch the sun rise over the lake while listening to the moving Last Post.

The Dawn Parade will be followed by a march led by service personnel, school parties, cadet corps and local community groups from the lakefront, through Government Gardens and the Field of Remembrance to the Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre where the ANZAC Day Memorial Service will be held at 9.30am.

To carry on your ANZAC Day commemorations visit the three WWI exhibitions at the Rotorua Museum where you can lay a virtual poppy on the Online Cenotaph or wander through the Returning Solider Exhibition at the Sulphur Lake Sculpture Trail and see the paper poppies made at this week’s poppy making workshop with Jill Walker, you can even make your own poppy to the trail.

ANZAC Day information

Anzac Day Dawn Parade
Date: Monday 25 April 2016
Time: 5.45 am
Where: Muruika War Cemetery Ohinemutu

Anzac Day – Civic Service
Date: Monday 25 April 2016
Time: 9.30am
Where: Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre

ANZAC parade will leave Memorial Drive at the lakefront at 9am. The parade will move up Fenton Street to Arawa Street, enter Government Gardens and return to the Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre for the service at 9.30am.

Road closures to be aware of: The section from Memorial Drive from Whakaue Street to Lakefront Drive will be closed from 8am to 10am to allow for the parade to meet.

ANZAC Day memorial services - Reporoa
Date: Monday 25 April 2016
Time: 9.30am
Where: Mataarae Marae
At 10.15am those that wish to can march from Reporoa Village Motors to the memorial hall for the 10.30am service. This will be followed by a time of fellowship over a shared cup of tea.

Buses
City Ride buses will be running a free service on Monday (25 April) morning until 12noon with a free shuttle running every 20 minutes between Arawa Street, the lakefront and Rotorua Museum from 8am to 12noon. The timetable for Rotorua bus routes can be found here - http://www.baybus.co.nz/rotorua/rotorua-urban/.

ANZAC breakfast
Another bonus for ANZAC supporters is a breakfast deal from Novotel Rotorua. Wear your poppy on ANZAC morning and get a yummy buffet breakfast for $20. Breakfast ends at 10.30am.

Activities at the Rotorua Museum

• Ka Maumahara Tonu Tatau Ki a Ratau
Rotorua Museum, Monday 25 April 7.00am – 5.00pm
Part of WW100: Remembering WW1 - 100 Years On
Following the dawn parade on Monday 25 April 2016, Rotorua Museum will open early from 7am. Visitors can come to reflect and to commemorate all the men and women who have served their country, showing courage and loyalty.

• He Pou Aroha Community Cenotaph - Discover Your Connection
Rotorua Museum, Thursday 14 April 2016 – Sunday 29 May 2016 9:00am – 5:00pm
Part of WW100: Remembering WW1 - 100 Years On
He Pou Aroha Community Cenotaph provides portable digital access to Online Cenotaph using innovative purpose-built digitisation kiosks. The digitisation kiosks allow you to search Online Cenotaph, lay a virtual poppy against a specific person's name and contribute additional information to the database.

• Balls, Bullets and Boots – From Rugby to Battlefield
Rotorua Museum, Thursday 14 April – Sunday 29 May – 9.00am – 5.00pm
Part of WW100: Remembering WW1 - 100 Years On
Balls, Bullets & Boots is an engaging, multimedia exhibition exploring the legacy of the First World War viewed through the eyes of 15 New Zealand rugby players and one woman coach – those from every background, those who served and those who stayed behind, those who came back and those who did not return.

• The Returning Soldier Exhibition
At the Sulphur Lake Sculpture Trail (between RAVE and the Museum) and between 10.30am and 2.30pm you can create your own poppy.

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