RSA street collector Christine West said the sunshine certainly helped make Poppy Day a success in the city. Photo / Murray Robertson
RSA street collector Christine West said the sunshine certainly helped make Poppy Day a success in the city. Photo / Murray Robertson
RSA collectors hit the streets in Gisborne bright and early on Friday for Poppy Day and RSA manager Paul Bayly said it was well supported.
The Returned Services Association (RSA) hopes to raise around $20,000 from the street collection and Poppy donation boxes in shops and other outlets.
“We hada lot of people out there collecting for us on Friday,” Bayly said.
“More than 50 senior students from the high schools, local cadets well as other RSA volunteers helped out. It was a magnificent turnout of collectors.”
The students and cadets looked after the morning collection.
The Gisborne Herald spoke to a couple of the volunteer collectors who were on the street in the city centre in the afternoon.
“It’s been very good, very steady,”said Christine West, who volunteers on Poppy Day every year. “A lovely sunny day certainly helped.”
Ngawai Turipa was at the corner of Gladstone Rd and Grey St with her collection box. "People have been really generous," she said. Photo / Murray Robertson
Ngawai Turipa, who also collects every year, said the collection went well.
“People have been really generous. It’s such a good cause to help our returned service people.”
Bayly said the RSA was happy with how it all went.
“We are very pleased and thankful for those who supported the cause. All the money raised locally gets used locally to support the welfare of the district’s returned services personnel,” Bayly said.
“We expect to have a tally from the overall appeal in early May.”
Lest we forget ... a flag commemorating Anzac Day in the city centre.
Anzac Day will be commemorated with a combined dawn and civic service next Saturday at the Cenotaph on The Esplanade.
