A 12-month stint seconded from the Ministry of Works to a Colombo Plan road-building project in Thailand almost half a century ago was recognised in a medal presentation in Hastings yesterday.
Hastings man Russell Smith, who celebrated his 80th birthday the previous day, was presented with the New Zealand Operational Service Medal (NZOSM), and the New Zealand General Service Medal with Thailand Bar at Clubs Hastings, the home of the Hastings RSA.
The presentation, with wife Barbara and their son and daughter present, was one of the last official duties for retiring Tukituki MP Craig Foss, deputising for Minister of Veterans' Affairs David Bennett.
The NZOSM was instituted in 2002 for New Zealanders who have undertaken operational service since the end of World War II, with over 24,000 veterans, current military personnel and civilians now recognised.
The General Service Medal was instituted in 1992 to recognise service in non-warlike operations for which there was no separate New Zealand, British Commonwealth, United Nations or Nato campaign medal. Clasps have been issued for operations since 1954 in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific.