“I WOULD NOT STEP BACK…”
A large banner, featuring a photograph of a wartime hero, with a British fighter plane on fire in the background, with the words:
168 Condemned Allied Airmen
A Nazi firing squad
Three days to execution
greeted 67 members of our Branch as they arrived at the historic Cheval Rooms, Hastings Racecourse for our annual mid-winter lunch.
This was the story of NZ 403460 Squadron Leader Phillip John Lamason DFC & Bar
Guest speaker, Glenys Mulligan, helped write this book about Hawke’s Bay “local hero”, from Dannevirke.
Following lunch Glenys absolutely enthralled everyone present with a power point presentation on the amazing exploits and heroic deeds of this amazing leader of men – Phillip Lamason.
Prior to lunch, three new members were presented with their Membership Certificates and badges by Branch President Paddy Bayley.
Special mention was made of Merv Gibbs, who retired from our Branch Committee at our AGM in March – after serving 24 years on our committee....that is amazing dedication, Present and past Committee members took Merv out to Hygee at Clifton for a special celebratory lunch and gave him a Certificate of Appreciation.
President Paddy Bayley updated members on the result of the very successful NZ Founders Society National AGM our Branch hosted two weeks earlier at East Pier, Ahuriri, Napier. She informed members that “the meeting unanimously approved of the acceptance of the new Constitution”, which will come into effect from 1 January 2025.
Members were informed that NZ Founders Society now have a new Administration Secretary Carol Cowling from Taranaki Branch. Carolyn Adams stepped down from that position at NZ Founders AGM and is now concentrating on Membership Secretary and the Remote Branch.
On display was the trophy donated by Mrs Audrey Henderson to New Zealand Founders Society for the Branch with the most new members during the past 12 months. Hawke’s Bay Branch has won this trophy every year since its inception in 2013. Secretary Richard Bayley received this on behalf of our Branch at the recent NZ Founders National AGM in Napier.
President Paddy informed members that, at the completion of the AGM both her and Richard were shocked to be presented with “Certificates of Appreciation” on behalf of all members of our Branch. Ian McGregor had organised this with National Secretary. Copies of these certificates were passed around for members to view.
“We felt very humbled to receive them” said Paddy. “We do enjoy organising functions and activities for our members, but it is time to step down, 31 December 2024 will be our last day in our current positions”.
Following the drawing of the raffles, the reciting of our NZ Founders Pledge concluded the afternoon.
Photos:
Photo 1 Banner
Photo 2 Books
Photo 3 Phillip Lamason’s uniform
Photo 4 Presentation of Certificates by Branch President Paddy Bayley (on left)
Sharon Butler, Kate Hopping & Stephanie Sullivan