UPDATED: Yesterday (April 21) Invercargill RSA members and community volunteers hit the streets and set up collection stalls throughout the city to raise funds for local RSA-related welfare.
RSA committee member and welfare officer Ewen Muir, who served in New Zealand and had a corporal rank during that time, said all the money raised would go back into providing welfare related costs to Invercargill RSA members and their families.
”Just recently we gave some money to a widow of a returned services member to buy some glasses,” he said.
There is a process, which is income tested, but not asset tested, for people to qualify for the welfare, he said, but the RSA helped cover expenses for members and family members, and could consist of paying things like rates and insurance and a range of bills.
The street appeal raised approximately $10,000 and the Invercargill RSA would like to thank everyone who helped sell poppies and gave money for the appeal.
Collectors will be at Rugby Park today (April 22) and the RSA will be recognised with a remembrance service before kickoff, between the Highlanders and Sunwolves.
Poppy Day is held national on the closest Friday to Anzac Day, which is commemorated on April 25.
This Anzac Day (Tuesday, April 25) will be the first time for 25 years that Ewen won’t attend a Dawn Service, as his health won’t allow him to stand for long periods.
But he will attend the early morning breakfast and Civic Reception, along with Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt, National Party MP Sarah Dowie and a New Zealand Defence Force representative, as well as other RSA members and guests, being held at the Invercargill Workingmen’s Club after the Dawn Parade.
- Invercargill Dawn Service: Cenotaph, Dee St, 7am
- Civic Reception: Invercargill Workingmen’s Club, 7.45am