Newsletter #4
Veterans’ Affairs Multi Media Competition
We are thrilled to learn that the Minister of Veterans’ Affairs, Hon Nathan Guy has recently announced the 2012 competition for Year 13 students to raise awareness of the Battle of Passchendaele, with a winning prize of a $2000 study grant. The annual competition is again titled ‘Why don’t we remember the Battle of Passchendaele?’
If you know of some students that you think may like to enter, then please direct them to the Veterans’ Affairs website to download an entry form. Entries must be in by September 14th and can be presented in any of the following forms:- Artistic Representation; Essay/Letters/Diaries; Music; Poetry; Short Film; Web Feature.
First World War Centenary Panel
You may have missed the announcement of the Government’s First World War Centenary panel, which is an advisory group to help steer what will be an extensive programme to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the First World War. It is hoped that the group will develop a commemorations programme that reflects the importance and solemnity of these events to the community and the whole nation.
The Government has a number of centenary legacy projects in the pipeline and some significant announcements will be made in the coming weeks. To ensure you stay informed you can register directly on their dedicated website .
Our website
Our own website has had a major revamp and is more than worth a regular visit as interesting News items and Events are constantly being added. Coming soon will be a Remembrance Trail for those intending to self-drive around the Flanders Fields battlefields on their own personal pilgrimage to Belgium.
Memorial Museum Passchendaele
The Museum at Zonnebeke recently hosted a Government delegation including Dr. Rt.Hon. Lockwood Smith (the Speaker of the House) together with representatives from most political parties, as part of their tour of the battlefields in Flanders. The Museum runs an interesting Blog called the Belgians have not Forgotten.
Another story worth checking out is the posting about the visit by the Auckland Police Pipe Band which included our Secretary and Piper. John Graham laid a wreath at the Menin Gate on Tuesday 24th July on behalf of the Passchendaele Society.
AWMM
The Auckland War Memorial Museum recently hosted two WW1 speakers, the first was Professor Glyn Harper from the Massey University – he is also the Passchendaele Society’s Historical Advisor. After the lecture the university took the opportunity to announce the fund raising project for the First World War Centenary History Project which aims to produce several volumes detailing the first full and most complete history of our involvement in the First World War. And the Museum Director announced the funding of $300,000 from the Ministry of Culture and Heritage for use in various Centenary projects and exhibitions.
The second speaker was Charlotte Descamps from Belgium, she is the Treasurer for the Passchendaele Society 1917 (Belgium). Charlotte gave a very interesting 1.5 hour lecture about life on the battlefields 95 years on. She also lectured at 3 Auckland High Schools during her brief visit to Auckland. She continues her tour of New Zealand lecturing in Wellington, Dunedin and then finally in Christchurch. You can follow her Blog as she travels the world, the English translation is a little behind but the Dutch version is up to date for those who understand that language.
Waiouru Army Museum
One of our members recently visited the Waiouru Army Museum and discovered something that many of you can help to correct:-
“ On a recent journey south, I stopped at the Waiouru Army museum as I always do when in that part of the country. As you walk to the entrance of the museum proper there is an electronic register of all New Zealand’s fallen. When I looked up my great uncle, Oscar Steers, I noted that the date he was killed was in their system as 10/4/1917 whereas it should have read 4/10/1917.
I spoke to a very helpful lady up in their library who informed me that a number of entries where entered by an American lady who entered the dates in the American format i.e. month / day / year instead of the New Zealand way of day / month / year. All I had to do was give her the correct information and she passed that on to have it corrected”
Members are encouraged to check for themselves the dates entered for your ancestor(s) and if need be have it rectified.
How to contact us
passchendaelesociety@clear.net.nz
Or telephone:- (09) 413 5322 (Hon. Secretary Bob Davis). He apologises for any lack of contact during the past three weeks while he has been in Europe, including a memorable visit to Flanders.
