There was plenty of laughter, a few Santa hats and a lot of very enthusiastic packing as the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services Association brought together the Defence community and its supporters to prepare Christmas parcels for New Zealand Defence Force personnel serving overseas.
But behind the energy of the packing line was a simple and much more meaningful purpose, making sure New Zealand’s service men and women who are away from their families this Christmas know that people back home are thinking of them.
The RSA has been sending Christmas parcels to deployed military personnel for 86 years. While what goes inside the boxes has changed considerably over that time, the idea behind them hasn’t: to send a small taste of home to those serving far away.
This year’s parcels will travel around the world to New Zealand personnel serving on overseas deployments, carrying familiar Kiwi treats and a reminder that their service and sacrifice have not been forgotten.
Helping pack the parcels this year were RNZRSA National President Tony Hill, RNZRSA Board Chair Rhys Jones, the Chief of Defence Force, the Chiefs of Army and Air Force and a representative of the Chief of Navy, alongside NZDF personnel, RNZRSA staff and representatives from Pams and Packaging Products.
Among those joining the packing line were David and Thelma, whose daughter Rachael will soon deploy to the Sinai and will be one of the service personnel receiving a parcel.
For families like theirs, the event is a reminder that deployment affects more than the person in uniform. Christmases, birthdays and other important moments continue at home while loved ones are often thousands of kilometres away, carrying out work that can be demanding, uncertain and sometimes dangerous.
For the person opening the parcel on Christmas Day, something as simple as familiar food, a message from home or the knowledge that somebody made the effort to pack a box especially for them can mean a great deal.
The parcels have traditionally been filled with Kiwi favourites generously donated by Pams, with Packaging Products providing the specially made boxes — support that has helped the RSA continue this longstanding tradition year after year.
Each parcel is more than a collection of Christmas treats. It is a message from home: we see you, we appreciate what you are doing, and you are not forgotten.
For our National President Tony Hill, that message reflects something much bigger than Christmas.
Supporting those who serve, and those who have served, sits at the heart of the RSA. Whether somebody is deployed overseas, serving here in New Zealand, transitioning out of the Defence Force or needs support many years after leaving uniform, the RSA is there for them.
And this Christmas, for those spending the day a long way from the people they love, a small box from New Zealand will hopefully make home feel just a little bit closer.
