Anzac Day at Maketū and Te Puke

From left, Tua and Kiri Mahutariki, Norm Cleeve, who served in the Australian Army, and Kim Hinaki at the Maketū dawn service.

Hundreds gathered by the shore at Maketū on Anzac Day morning.

As the dark of night gave way to the dawn, and the sun began to warm those who had risen early to remember, tributes were paid, tales told and friends, family and whānau were remembered.

Patriots Defence Force Motorcycle Club's Harold Morris, who served in the Royal New Zealand Navy for 20 years, took the microphone for the first tributes of the day.

Maketū Rotary Club's Charles Peni then quoted Laurence Binyon's poem For the Fallen and recognised the large numbers of young people at the commemoration.

''My moko is running around here somewhere, and he is wearing the medals of his great-grandfather who was in the army - and those medals he is wearing, he knows the significance of every one of them.''

He also recalled cousins and friends who enlisted for the Vietnam War.

''I don't think they understood the reality of where they were going, the reality of war.''

Maree Lewis wore the medals of her late husband's father, Theo, who, with his five cousins, enlisted when World War I began.

With their horses they sailed for France, but ended up in Egypt.

''He was wounded home to England twice and was then sent back to the front line - I can't imagine how terrifying that must have been,'' she said.

The Anzac Day dawn service at Maketū.

She also told the story of her aunt Linda Bragg whose war was much longer than most.

After a hard childhood on the family farm on Te Matai Rd, Linda opened a bakery and, rather than being manpowered during World War II, enlisted. She ended up working on a ship where she contracted tuberculosis, the effects of which stayed with her for the rest of her life.

Many other speakers also acknowledged the large number of young people at the dawn commemoration.

Kim Hinaki, who served in the navy for 20 years, was one.

''It is very touching and moving to see many young people here to learn about Anzac Day. They can carry the baton once we are all passed away.''

Western Bay deputy mayor John Scrimgeour said he grew up ''rather fearful'' that he might have to go and fight another war.

''And when I look back I am so very very grateful for those before me who were willing to go and serve to ensure the freedoms that we enjoy so much today.

''Today is a solemn day in many respects but it is also a day of great gratitude.''

Maketū Fire Chief Shane Gourlay recalled his Koro who enlisted under his own name, Andy Gourlay but, being sent home from training on medical grounds, re-enlisted in his brother Robert's name and got a friend to sit his medical in his place.

''That shows me the dedication and the respect our Koro had for their mates and wanting to be with them,'' he said.

Bugler Peter Cranson played the Last Post and then the naval Reveille in recognition of the number of sailors at the dawn parade.

Later in the day, at the civic service in Te Puke, the speakers were Te Puke Intermediate School head boy and girl, George Edwards-Heeney and Hayley Dodd, who both paid tribute to those who have gone before, representing New Zealand in two world wars, and Te Puke High School head boy and girl Giovanni Rai and Helen Emerson.

The main guest speaker was dairy farmer Dayna Rowe. She spoke about her grandfather Erni Dix who served in the Malaya Emergency and who is Te Puke RSA's oldest member.

''Anzac Day has always been a day of significance for me; a day when I have watched my grandfather march with pride and a day when I have witnessed him mourn,'' she said.