On a day of highlights perhaps the most significant came when Cambridge RSA president Tony Hill read out a letter from King Charles III to Les Winslade.
Les Winslade, 104. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Letter from King Charles to WWII veterans.
Les at 104 was not only the oldest one at the Anzac Day Commemoration Service but the last World War II veteran, hence the letter from the king marking the 80th anniversary year of the war’s end.
“I owe my peaceful childhood to the steadfast efforts of those of your comrades, with yourselves, in overcoming tyranny,” the letter said.
The day started at dawn in mild and perfect conditions attended by more than 1000 people, including many youngsters.
Tony Hill leads the Ode of Remembrance with retired chaplain Ants Hawes watching on. Anzac Day Dawn Parade 2025. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Veteran John Filmer, foreground during the Anzac dedication with from left, RSA president Tony Hill and vice president Jon Broadley, Alison Hucke and ex Indian navy officer Allan Rodrigues. Anzac Day Dawn Parade 2025. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Cas Stinson, left, and Colin Parkinson of the Cambridge RSA lay poppies during the Dawn Ceremony. Anzac Day Dawn Parade 2025. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Anzac Day Dawn Parade 2025. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Waipā District Council staffers Debs Holmes, left, and Veronica Huxtable provide valuable support on Anzac Day. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Poppies balloon at Anzac Day Dawn Parade 2025. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Retired Defence chaplain Group Captain Ants Hawes spoke of the men and women, including 550 nurses who served overseas, and the impact the war had on the New Zealand economy at the time.
At the Commemorative Service, where head counts put the attendance at 1200, St Peter’s School leaders Kieran Lawson and Madeleine Waddell spoke of the importance of never forgetting the sacrifices that unites New Zealand as a nation.
Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan said she recently visited the Auckland War Memorial Museum with her family and gazed across the names of those New Zealanders lost at war.
Waipa mayor Susan O’Regan delivers her moving speech at the Commemoration Service. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Cambridge Community Board chair Jo Davies-Colley and Waipa mayor Susan O’Regan listen during the Anzac Day commemoration service. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
From left, Les Winslade, 104, Alison and Wolf Hucke. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
“The impact of war was never conveyed more clearly to me than early this week. [The museum] is a beautiful working monument paying homage to those New Zealanders who made the ultimate sacrifice in war,” O’Regan said.
“It was indeed a sobering walk with my husband, 15-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son through the World War I and World War II halls of memories.
“The walls bare the names of New Zealanders killed in armed conflict around the world. Thousands and thousands of names skilfully carved in marble. Wall after wall, after wall, after wall.
“The true human cost never felt more real. They weren’t just names. They were sons and daughters, husbands, uncles, fiancés, friends. Indeed, we found my great uncle’s name and I thought of the deep loss my great grandparents must have felt upon being told of his going down over Tunisia.
“They were all just like us, ordinary people, doing quite extra ordinary things.”
O’Regan said as they came to the end of the World War II wall, there was a large blank panel.
“This section very hopefully proclaimed six simple words, which I wish to leave you with. Let these panels never be filled.”
Children aged 5-7 years line up for The Kerfuffle race, an obstacle event during the Cycling Festival which involved running, cycling through obstacles, delivering copies of The News and sucking on limes.
Cambridge High School student Lily Cameron sets off just behind New Zealand cyclist Olivia King with starter Shaane Fulton holding the hooter in one of the road race time trials during the Cycling Festival. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Once packed up, it was time for the Cambridge Cycling Festival to take over. In a town where cycling is popular, the display showing how cyclists contributed during wars proved popular. The New Zealand Cyclist Corps was formed in March 1916 with 59 of the battalion’s members killed.
Itty Bitty Bike Dash: Millar Gurney 1, Harvey Merrington 2, Walter Beer 3. Sprinter Showdown: Kail Lart (men), Olivia King (women).
The Kerfuffle: 5-7 years: Beauden Hancock, Otto Beer, Jackson McVie; 8-10 years: Walter Beer 1, Jacke Wilson 2, Hugh Gudsell 3; 11+ year: Jack Lockwood 1, Louise Ulmer 2, Phoebe Ulmer 3.
Criterium road race, A grade: Dan Morton 1, Alex Botha 2, Hunter Dalton 3. Preem (speed) winners: Dan Morton (x2), Zakk Patterson. B grade: Stirling Kraakman 1, Jame Henderson 2, Shem Rodger 3. Women: Bryony Botha 1, Neve McKenzie 2, Elena Worrall 3. Preem winners: Jamie Henderson, Remi Dalton. C grade: Riley Hartgill 1, David Whyman 2, Gregor Stevens 3. Women: Sophie Archer 1, Emily Cameron 2, Ava van Rij 3. Preem winners: David Whyman, Riley Hartgill.
Elodie Cox wins one of the spot prizes at the Cycling Festival, an Evo bicycle, watched by her brother Jasper. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
The winner of the Itty Bitty Bike Dash during the Cycling Festival was Millar Gurney, left while Harvey Merrington was second. They both attend St Peter’s School, Cambridge. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Zoe Makgill safely delivers her copy of The News during The Kerfuffle race during the Cycling Festival. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Daniel Morton took out the Cambridge Criterium road race convincingly from a talented field. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Amberley Apted in the Kerfuffle race during the Cambridge Cycling Festival 2025. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Cambridge Cycling Festival 2025 bike winner Amberley Apted. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Charlie Corby leads Tianji Zhong in the Kerfuffle race at Cambridge Cycling Festival 2025. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Tiani Zhong in the Kerfuffle race during Cambridge Cycling Festival 2025. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Logan Holzer rounds the Town Clock Roundabout during the Cambridge Cycling Festival 2025. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Nigel Yalden at the Cambridge Cycling Festival 2025. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Criterium at the Cambridge Cycling Festival 2025. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Tony Hill, Wolf Hucke and Allan Rodrigues at the Anzac Day Dawn Ceremony 2025
