1 December 2011

Christmas around the World

At the RSA we’re really proud of our tradition of sending a little kete of Kiwi goodies to Defence Force and Police personnel serving overseas at Christmas with the hope that it brightens up their Christmas. Many RSA members have been in this situation themselves with the knowledge that thoughts turn to loved ones back home.

Students of Mt Cook School show the handmade Christmas cards for overseas personnel.

This year, back in September, almost 450 parcels were packed by personnel from the Defence Force, Police, RSA volunteers as well as students from Mt Cook School which is across the road from the National War Memorial and HMS Olphert where the parcels were packed. They included such Kiwi classics as Whittakers peanut slabs, Watties tomato sauce, Anzac biscuits, Christmas mince pies, marmite, chippies and onion dip ingredients, Jaffas and chewing gum, as well as handmade Christmas cards from school children from Papakura, Waiouru, Burnham schools and Wellington’s Mt Cook school.

Defence Force personnel and RSA staff and volunteers package the parcels at HMS Olphert in Mt Cook, Wellington.

Our tradition of sending parcels to troops overseas began during World War I and today  is funded by generous financial donations from local RSAs and individual members, the New Zealand Police, and contributions from the Navy, Army and Air Force Central Welfare Funds.

And the destination for these parcels? The four corners of the globe with 11 countries including Afghanistan, Antarctica, Korea, Solomon Islands, and Timor Leste.

So a big task for the Santa’s helpers in the RNZAF as acknowledged in the message from the RSA included with each parcel:

“RSA acknowledges the professionalism of our Defence and Police Forces, and the magnificent work carried out by both on deployment. You proudly uphold the heritage of those who have gone before and we know you maintain those traditions and are worthy ambassadors for New Zealand. To you go our special thoughts and thanks for that extremely important contribution you are making on behalf of our nation.

Wherever you are this Christmas, we’re thinking of you and your loved ones back here in Aotearoa.

Our warmest wishes and Christmas greetings
Kia Ora! Meri Kirimete! Kia Kaha!”

The Christmas parcels ready for deployment to 11 countries across the globe.

And already we’ve received some responses…

From South Korea:

Kia Ora

There are three Kiwi officers working in South Korea (Seoul) with the United Nations Command Armistice Military Commission (UNCMAC). Lt Martin Wilson, RNZN and Lt Ewan Sinclair, RNZIR both work in the DMZ and I work in HQ UNCMAC as the DMZ Operations Officer. We are very honoured to be flying our Nation’s flag in this part of the world and we certainly appreciate your support and thoughts.

We will be without our families this Christmas. But we know that through the good work that our Navy, Army and Air Force personnel are doing in many parts of the world will make sure that our families are safe and that we will continue to enjoy the freedom we value dearly.    

We have received the welfare packages. The goodies are very much appreciated and we thank you and your sponsors for your ongoing support and kind thoughts at this time of the year.

KIA KAHA

Tausie M Tarsau
MAJ (NZ Army)