RSA members honoured

Back, Waipawa and Districts RSA vice president Andrew Renton-Green (left), Waipawa and Districts RSA president Gwyn Burton, Royal NZ RSA vice-president Bob Hill, CHB Mayor Peter Butler. Front, Waipawa RSA members and gold award recipients Jack McCleary (left) and Wally Malcolm, and merit badge recipient and Waipawa RSA past-president Maitland Manning.

Three members of the Waipawa and Districts RSA were honoured by the national body with the presentation of badges at the CHB Municipal Theatre this week.

Long-time members Jack McCleary and Wally Malcolm received gold star badges and former Waipawa president Maitland Manning was presented a merit badge.

Bob (Bukit) Hill, vice-president of the Royal New Zealand RSA said the gold award was one of the highest honours the RSA gives out.

"There's only one award higher and that's life membership. When we do these presentations the national president or vice-president does the presentation - it's that important."

Waipawa RSA president Gwyn Burton said it was an honour to hand over the richly deserved recognition, and spoke of the three men's contribution to war time efforts as well as the RSA and community as a whole.

During his service in World War II, Mr McCleary served in the navy clearing minesweepers in the Hauraki Gulf.

He spent about 50 years with the Waipawa Volunteer Fire Brigade for which he received a Queen's Service Medal, and at age 89 was still making the odd effort to re-join, Mr Burton said.

A member of the RSA for more than 40 years, Mr McCleary still manned poppy collection tables for Anzac commemorations, and provided an invaluable link between the committee, RSA members and the public.

Wally Malcolm, aged 93, spent two years in a prisoner of war camp in Munich after he was captured in Italy in World War II.

Back home, he became a committee member of the Waipawa RSA in 1979, served as vice-president for nearly 10 years and still serves on committee, continuing to be a poppy collector.

Maitland Manning was invited to join the Waipawa RSA in 2001 to be an honorary padre and from there became vice-president in 2006, made president in 2009 until 2015.

Mr Burton said membership of the Waipawa RSA grew during Mr Maitland's presidency, and he had been instrumental in running successful Anzac and Armistice Day commemorations.

About 100 people attended the awards ceremony, which was followed by tea and nibbles.