Conflict still real, soldier says

By SHIRLEY WHITWELL in Whakatane and ABIGAIL CASPARI in Rotorua
The tragedy of conflict was the theme of the annual Anzac Day speech at the 90th district memorial service held at a packed Whakatane War Memorial Hall.

The guest speaker was retired Lieutenant Colonel Russell Martin who joined the New Zealand Army in 1961.

After service in the Air Services and SAS, Lieutenant Martin served in Vietnam between 1967 and 1969.

In his address to returned personnel and their families, Mr Martin said: "Even today we are not free of conflict. All around us there is conflict. Even one small tragedy is a tragedy.

"Here in New Zealand we are remote from much of it by large distance

"But we make our living from the rest of the world and while there is conflict in the rest of the world, New Zealand must be there to help."

Mr Martin retired to the Eastern Bay of Plenty in 1987 and heads civil defence for the region on behalf of the Whakatane District Council and Environment Bay of Plenty.

Meanwhile, more than 700 people filled the main theatre at the Rotorua Convention Centre, with some spilling over into the in the concert chamber, for Rotorua's civic Anzac Day service yesterday morning.

Guest speaker Rotorua Girls' High School head girl Jennie Taylor spoke about her great grandfathers' experiences at war. The school's deputy head girl Shiraan Dunn talked about the freedom New Zealanders now have as a result of those who fought at war.

The huge drawcard Anzac ceremonies are for New Zealanders has greatly impressed visitors to the city.

Canadians Linda and Howie Alberts, who have spent the past six weeks travelling around Australia and New Zealand, said they were amazed how how high profile the celebrations were compared with those in their home country where the equivalent of Anzac Day is only celebrated in major cities.

"It is good to to see how important it still is to New Zealanders," the couple said as they spent time admiring the wreaths laid at the base of the World War I cenotaph in the Government Gardens.