Reward for stolen sign

The sign outside the Whangarei RSA that members are offering a $500 reward for information that leads to its return. Photo / File

When thieves struck at the heart of Whangarei's RSA by stealing a sign engraved with the sacred words "Lest We Forget", it hit the members hard.

Now the members are offering a reward for information leading to the sign's return.

Whangarei RSA Vice-President Kevin Peachey said when the sign was stolen on February 6, it left the members distraught and wondering why somebody would steal something so sacred from a group that was representing those that sacrificed their lives to uphold our democracy and way of life.

"The members feel it desecrated the memories of the people who served and died for their country.

"The 100th anniversary (of Anzac forces landing on Gallipoli in 1915) is coming up and we want it back to honour those sacrifices.

"It was at the entrance and the first thing you saw when coming in and it's where the Dawn Parade will start from on Anzac Day, so it's really significant."

The kauri slab with the words "Lest We Forget" has greeted visitors to the Whangarei RSA Club on Rust Ave since it was bolted into place on November 11, 2001.

But thieves unscrewed four bolts on the corners of the 2-metre long sign, leaving just the white painted posts it was attached to. And despite widespread publicity the sign has not turned up, prompting RSA members to put up a $500 reward for information that leads to its return.

"It looks pretty sad with just the white posts there," Mr Peachey said.

"The members have dug deep to come up with a reward. Some of our members are on fixed or shrinking incomes and this shows the depth of feeling they have about this theft."

The sign was donated by D'Arcy and Jan Bailey. Last year it was taken down, sanded, varnished and the lettering darkened before being put back in pride of place.

It would have taken at least two people to carry the sign and a vehicle to take it away.

Another wooden plaque bolted to a concrete wall less than 5 metres away was nearly taken by the thieves.

Mr Peachey said anybody with information can contact the RSA on 09 443 83792 or Whangarei Police on 09 430 4500.