Kia ora koutou,

We’re now in the busiest month for the RSA, with Poppy Day on the 22^nd, Anzac Day Services being held on the 25^th and our Poppy Campaign running throughout the month of April. There’s lots to be done and if you find your RSA is struggling to meet all the challenges – reach out to your District President for support.
This year’s Poppy Campaign is set to raise our profile higher than ever before, so it’s important we take a moment to acknowledge the sponsors who have made it possible. Marketing firm Walsh & Beck who developed the campaign, have donated a significant number of their work hours to support the RSA. And of course, New Zealand Couriers who donated their services by moving our Poppies across the country ready for the campaign.

In this newsletter:

Update to Anzac Day guidance

The recent easing of COVID restrictions should have prompted RSA’s to review their plans for Anzac Day commemorations.
It is disappointing to see a number of RSA are making public statements about cancelling parades due to restrictions that are no longer in place.
All RSA’s are now strongly encouraged to hold traditional commemorations and parades where possible. Protection of our vulnerable veterans can be achieved with appropriate planning and control measures, and should not be the excuse used for “cancelling” public events.
I acknowledge that some centres will not be able to meet local planning timelines for transport management plans etc, but I urge all RSA to do what they can to allow the New Zealand public to commemorate Anzac Day as part of their community.

Update on Poppy Campaign 2022

Earlier this week an updated version of the Poppy Campaign Guide Book was released. If you have not yet received the updates, please contact your District President to obtain a copy.
The updates include new direction on how to obtain a QR code to allow online donations, an updated publication list for the print advertisements, and a new process for accessing social media materials.
Unfortunately, the Facebook frame that was created for the campaign cannot be used. Recent changes to Facebook’s rules mean that bespoke frames can no longer be uploaded to the site.
The Poppy Campaign this year is relying heavily on online donations. Givealittle is no longer our primary platform for receiving donations and a new donate function is live on our website.
Givealittle was an excellent temporary measure to collect online donations, but does mean we lose a small amount of each donation to the website’s administration charge. The new platform does not take any percentage of donations.
QR codes provide excellent functionality on the new platform, and individual QR codes provided to you allow donations made in to the central account, to be tracked and paid back to individual RSA.
A number of RSA have asked about whether there will be a text-to-donate option for the campaign this year. Recent research shows that donations by QR code are much more effective while Text-to-donate functions are incredibly expensive to set up, and all result in losing part of each donation to administration or the phone company provider (in some cases, up to 33% of donations are lost).  With that in mind, no Text-to-donate function will be available this year.

The RSA National Office are receiving a large amount of general enquiries from individual RSA.
All enquiries that are of a local nature (affect only that RSA or only RSA’s in the same region) should be directed to the District Presidents in the first instance.

In search of stories from New Zealand’s ‘Silent Army’ during World War IIThe silent sacrifice of New Zealand women during World War II and their service in
New Zealand and overseas is often overshadowed by that of our war heroes.

‘So often we forget the women left behind in New Zealand, while our men and women went to serve overseas. They were the ‘Silent Army’ who kept the home fires burning,
working in roles that were traditionally dominated by men. From manufacturing uniforms, equipment, weaponry, to working in factories, on farms, trams and the railways.
They wrote letters and packed parcels for those serving overseas, baked fruitcakes and shortbread, to provide some of the comforts of home.’
—New Zealand President of the RSA, BJ Clark QSM JP

Historian and author Renée Hollis is searching New Zealand for untold stories from this Silent Army. After the success of her book Voices of World War II: New Zealanders share their stories (Exisle Publishing) she is now working on a social history project focusing on the experiences of New Zealand women during World War II, immersing herself in letters and diaries from women who helped keep the home fires burning or served overseas.
‘I am looking for stories that have never been shared before that will give the reader a real insight into what women’s lives were really like during World War II,’ she said.
Sources could include those who can recall childhood memories of wartime, mothers raising children while their husbands were fighting overseas, volunteers, land girls, women who worked in the factories as well as the Red Cross, the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps (WAACs), the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAFs), the Women’s Royal Naval Service (Wrens), etc., etc.
She is also very interested to hear about the experiences of New Zealand women who served overseas as nurses, pilots, ambulance drivers or entertainers, etc.

Letters and diaries must be submitted by 19 June 2022.

Material can be emailed to Renée at this address:
newzealandsilentarmy@gmail.com
Or letters, diaries and photographs can be posted to:
Renée Hollis
P.O. Box 85
Nelson
7040

* Please make sure that you include a return address.

Renée understands how precious these items are and will take great care of them.
After she has read the material, she will return all items via courier.

J’aime Les MacaronsThe ANZAC poppy reminds us of sacrifices made, both past and present. Every year, we create our edible version of the beautiful ANZAC poppy, and donate $2 from every poppy sold ($4 each) to supporting the RSA.

Our poppies are delicious dark chocolate & raspberry flavoured macarons, and are available for purchase individually or as a set of 6 or 12. You can purchase our poppies at www.jaimelesmacarons.co.nz/collections/anzac from Friday the 1^st of April, or by visiting our Merivale Mall location in Christchurch from Monday the 4^th of April.

Together, we can do business for good.
Facebook: @JaimeLesMacaronsNZ
Insta: @jaimelesmacarons_

The buzz of giving has been caught by The Shed Project’s Poppy makers Team!
After a very successful 2021 campaign to raise money for The Poppy Trust Funds with Paraparaumu RSA as well as growing a social enterprise, our Poppy Makers Team has been given the challenge to go National and give more! We are happy once again to be able to contribute to our community in “Supporting Veterans and their dependents” via The Poppy Trust Funds.
As part of our 3 keys motto at The Shed Project “Enable, Opportunity and Inclusion”, we create social enterprise for our people who cannot access work, identify and develop their skills and allow them to experience the gift of giving back to their local and wider community and challenge the misconception that the differently abled aren’t contributors to society, as given the opportunity, the right help, tools and environment, we can all be active members of our community.
It is with the greatest pleasure that we gift some of the poppies we made for the Anzac day parade. Buy a poppy $20 each and we pledge to donate $4.25 to the poppy fund for each flower sold.To order:

Please text Jo on 028 438 3396 or email jopicot@shedproject.co.nz
Trade Me: Search for “Shed made Anzac giant poppies”
Our website: https://shedproject.co.nz/products-misc