Portobello Anzac Day 2015

On April 25, 2015 By Portobello EditorIn New Zealand, Otago, Otago Peninsula, Peninsula, Portobello, Portobello Community IncLeave a comment

It was a fine warm autumn morning for the ANZAC Day service at the Otago Peninsula Museum at Portobello. The significance of ANZAC Day was given even more meaning with the 100th anniversary of the landings at Gallipoli, and a good crowd of local people and visitors attended. The service had a strong local flavour with Mrs Wilma Beck reading excerpts from her Great Uncle’s Gallipoli diary and pupils from Portobello School reading poems they had written to mark the day. In a final fitting tribute a totara was planted in the grounds as a living memorial to the ANZAC spirit. Once again many thanks to the hard-working volunteers from Portobello Community Incorporated and the Otago Peninsula Museum for their organisation and hard-work. (Click on pictures to view in full size).

ANZAC Day is not the glorification of war, but a reminder that lasting peace is a fragile gift, that as the guardians of ANZAC Day we must cherish and protect for the future. Today we live in uncertain times and we face an uncertain future driven by global events that threaten the security and peace that we have known and enjoyed for over 100 years. If we are to conquer that uncertainty we must draw strength from our ANZAC traditions and learn from their courage and commitment to a lasting legacy of peace. Because in 100 years of New Zealand service our servicemen and women have shown the world that the real and lasting victories are those of peace and not of war.

Lest we forget.

(Click on pictures to view in full size).

Anzac Day in Portobello

On April 25, 2014 By Portobello EditorIn Dunedin, New Zealand, Otago, Otago Peninsula, Peninsula, Portobello, Portobello Community Inc2 Comments

Despite the rain the Anzac Day service at Portobello Museum was well attended by young an old on Friday 25th April. The service was a fitting tribute for all of those who served throughout the last 100 years, but 2014 is particularly poignant being the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War One.

Anzac Day is a unique part of New Zealand life. We commemorate and we mourn together in every city and every small town across the country. As a nation and in our communities we reach out spiritually and physically to those who served but were lost to us forever. We stand beside or remember those who served and were returned to us.

Anzac day is the time when we gather together and remember those men and women who as ordinary people did extraordinary things in extraordinary times, in events and places that shaped the world’s history. Anzac Day is a time when we reflect on the peace that we have enjoyed created by the sacrifice and service of those willing to serve their communities, their country and their comrades. Perhaps, in this time of peace on Anzac Day we should reflect and show stronger resolve on how we can best serve our families, our community and our country today. In 100 years New Zealand and all of its servicemen and women have shown the world that the real and lasting victories are those of peace and not of war.

At the conclusion of the service a commemorative tree was planted with a plaque to honour the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War One. There was also a welcome cup of tea at the end of the service and a chance to reminisce with friends and loved ones. Many thanks to the Portobello Museum volunteers and Portobello Community incorporated for your work in organising the event.

Lest we forget.

Children planting commemorative tree

Another young “digger”

Plaque at the Domain

Laying of a wreath

Local family members lay their wreathes

Audience at the service

Anzac Day Service in Portobello

On April 15, 2013April 15, 2013 By Portobello EditorIn Dunedin, New Zealand, Otago, Otago Peninsula, Peninsula, Portobello, Portobello Community Inc, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Portobello will hold its annual Anzac Day service at the Portobello Museum war memorial on April 25th, 9.30 am. The service will commemorate those servicemen and women who served in military campaigns and pay homage to those local men who were killed while on military service. Portobello School will take part in a reflection of what Anzac Day means at the service and family members and community groups will lay wreathes at the memorial.

Anzac Day is an important event in the Portobello community just as it is for many New Zealand communities. It is a time to remember events that have taken men and women far from their communities and their loved ones, some of whom did not return. We hope to see everyone participate in the service and take a moment to reflect on the meaning of Anzac Day.