Arvida Lauriston Park wellness leader Prerana Thapa
Hundreds of Cambridge rest home residents marked Anzac Day at in-house services over the past week, among them New Zealand’s oldest veteran and a former All Black.
Bill Birtwistle played 29 times for Waikato and was capped seven times by the All Blacks. Photo: Viv Posselt
Bupa St Kilda residents, veteran Donald Rex Augustine and his wife Colleen-Rae Augustine, enjoying the sun at the village Anzac service. Photo: Viv Posselt
Cambridge resident Chris Gale, pictured with Cambridge RSA president Graham Johns, sang the anthems at the Bupa St Kilda Anzac service. Photo: Viv Posselt
At 105, Les Winslade is believed to be New Zealand’s oldest veteran. He lives at Cambridge Resthaven, alongside his daughter Alison Hucke, and her veteran husband, Wolfe Hucke.
They all attended a service at Cambridge Resthaven on Wednesday last week when Brigadier (Ret) Jon Broadley presented a Defence Service Medal (DSM) to Aircraftsman (Ret) Norman Frew, who has done 27 years’ service for the country.
The News wrote a story on Norman in July 2025 when he became the first Cambridge Resthaven resident to take up the facility’s EV car-sharing option. Now 94, Norman spent time both as a medical orderly and a bandmaster, serving with the 1RNZIR Band in Singapore from 1974-1976. Some of that time was shared with the Cambridge RSA’s current bugler Doug Rose.
Broadley said this year marked not only 110 years since the first Anzac Day commemorations, but also the 109th anniversary in October of the Passchendaele campaign on the Western Front.
Bupa St Kilda village manager Clare Coles and Cambridge RSA president Graham Johns lead the Anzac service. Photo: Viv Posselt
Bandsmen who served together in Singapore, Cambridge Resthaven’s Norman Frew (seated) and bugler Doug Rose. Photo: Viv Posselt
“This campaign is equally as important as Gallipoli in understanding New Zealand’s experience in the First World War, which left such an indelible mark on this country,” he said, adding that their stories are filled with courage, commitment and comradeship which ties our military past to our military present and future.
“Community support to contemporary veterans and their families is equally as important as it was 111 years ago after Gallipoli. They too have seen some horrors in the current and recent global environment… let’s not forget them.”
Resthaven on Burns held a separate service for its residents.
A service at Bupa St Kilda was addressed by the village’s general manager Clare Coles, and was the first Anzac Day service to be led by the relatively new Cambridge RSA president Graham Johns. Those present heard how heavy the price was for today’s freedom, at times with the loss of around three men for each yard of ground gained.
Cambridge Resthaven veterans with, back from left, Cambridge RSA president Graham Johns, Brigadier (Ret) Jon Broadley, and Cambridge RSA bugler Doug Rose. Front from left are Joe Fraser, Les Winslade, Norman Frew, and Wolf Hucke. Photo: Viv Posselt
Norman Frew, right, pictured with his family after being presented with the Defence Service Medal at the Resthaven Anzac service. Norman is with his daughters Caroline and Christine Frew, and his grandson Michael Dawson. Photo: Viv Posselt
Arvida Lauriston Park resident Doug Lineham, front, seated with Cambridge RSA bugler Doug Rose and RSA president Graham Johns. Photo: Viv Posselt
A dance team made up of staff members performed to the music Hallelujah. Photo: Viv Posselt
Residents Graham Clarke and Annette Blythe sang at the Arvida Lauriston Park service, accompanied by Lynette Aish on the piano. Photo: Viv Posselt
Among those there was former All Black (1965-67) Bill Birtwistle, who has lived at St Kilda for the past nine years, and WW2 engineer Donald Rex Augustine, who moved to St Kilda with his wife three years ago.
The service at Arvida Lauriston Park’s care centre was different again, infusing the message of respect for our veterans with well-considered music and dance put on by residents and staff.
Lauriston Park’s wellness leader and event organiser Prerana Thapa said when the first Anzacs landed at Gallipoli, it was ‘to fight in a land they had never seen for a cause greater than themselves.
“They faced so much, yet stood together, not just as soldiers, but as brothers. It was the birth of the Anzac spirit. Anzac Day is about the present and the future too, remembering that the freedom we enjoy came at a great cost.”
Dancers from the staff performed to the song ‘Hallelujah’ and residents sang. One of their number, Doug Lineman, read a poignant story entitled ‘The Quiet Man in the Corner’.
Arvida Lauriston Park wellness leader Prerana Thapa speaking at the start of their Anzac service. Photo: Viv Posselt
