A blue sky and brilliant sun welcomed a crowd of over 1500 people to take part in Raglan’s ANZAC Service this morning. The Parade formed from Bankart St along Wainui Road to Bow St. At 11am it was led off by the Raglan Pipe Band. A red cross donkey followed along with two soldiers on horse and next came the veterans, members of 161 Battery and the Navy followed by local services.
Raglan RSA President, Wayne Gadsby opened the service before handing over to the two ministers. Sean Ellison took the Maori parts of the service. The head boy and head girl from Raglan Area School gave the address. The wreath laying came next with many local groups laying memorials.
The cadets then took the Last Post. An improvement this year was singing Advance Australia Fair. This was followed by God Defend New Zealand sung in Maori and then English. And finally the Parade marched off to the Raglan Club to a morning tea sponsored by the Raglan Community Board.