MEMORABILIA and a new carved sign. From back and left: John Robertson, Tina Knox, Clive Knox, Bruce Palmer, Kenny Tangihaere and Bill Wana.
PIOPIO’s RSA branch closed in 1987, but now it’s back.
Historically the group met in the town’s senior citizens hall – but in past decades the township’s RSA members have attended Te Kūiti branch meetings instead.
“It’s been a privilege to be able to be a part of this,” said the man who made it happen, Bill Wana.
“It’s taken a while to get to this point, but we’re there now. And it can only go forward.”
He was approached about the project in the early 2000s by past presidents of the Piopio club, and well-known locals such as Snow Nicol.
Bill’s involvement in matters military began in 1971.
“I was attending Te Kūiti High School. We used to do the school cadets, and we came out here [to Piopio and Āria]. We marched and did the guard of honor on Anzac Day.”
When the cadets arrived in Piopio, the old soldiers would have already been to the club.
“By that stage, all of these old servicemen were that happy. And instead of marching down the road, they’re dancing down the street. You’d hear the old RSM or their area commander yelling at them, ‘Get in line.’
“We were young school kids, schoolboys watching these grown men. They were fantastic times.”
Bill joined the army in 1977, and soon went on a tour of duty to Singapore and Malaya, returning in 1980 before again being sent overseas.
“It offered me a lot of opportunities, to tour the world and see other countries,” he said.
Back then, Piopio felt different – with more opportunities and employment. There were three or four families living on farms that would have one today, Bill said. Now with the rise of dairy farming, many workers were young single men, not families.
The new branch helped preserve that sense of community.
“Having clubs such as the Cossie Club and the RSA and having events such as Anzac Day still going, you still see that community unity,” he said.
The RSA has remained meaningful for those who returned from the services.
“It gives them a sense of belonging … you come back, and you can still connect with something from your past.”
They also gained confidence and encouragement – especially those who felt they were being judged and looked at. Senior RSA members offered guidance and support.
“It’s like what we did in the services and as instructors,” he said.
Piopio also benefitted greatly from continuing with RSA traditions.
“It’s about seeing the families for me. The families whose fathers or uncles had passed on but they’re still showing that support, they’re still there.”
Bill said one Piopio lady attended Anzac services each year until the age of 101, when she physically could no longer come.
His role in the RSA came about as older members passed on, he said. He had only just returned to the district when he was approached.
“You must be doing the Anzac,” they said.
“They didn’t see anyone else they had confidence in, to stand up. They approached me and I’ve stuck at it since.”
Now, he hopes to pass the baton to younger members – not wait until he is unable to provide that support.
The new branch has a dedicated corner displaying historic memorabilia and a carved sign at the Piopio Cosmopolitan Club, which will be home to the sub-branch.
Member Clive Knox, ex British Army and Royal New Zealand Airforce, said the new branch sign had its own story.
When the members agreed to commission a sign, Clive decided to ask the Māori Focus unit at Waikeria prison, where he worked, for help.
“I went to the prison and spoke to the principal officer … I asked if it was possible to get someone to make us a sign. He said, yes.”
A prisoner in his late 20s was happy to do it.
“I took a picture and showed him what we wanted and three weeks later, he finished it, carved it.”
Afterwards, Clive learned the man’s father had connections with the British army; and his grandfather with the Māori Batallion.
“He was chuffed to bits he had been asked to do something for the RSA.
“He’d never done anything like it before. He was only learning to carve; that was his first major project on his own. He was puffed up like a little bantam rooster, strutting around with his sign in his arms. He was so proud of it, it was unreal. Like a dog with two tails.” The man is now back in the community.
“He will pop up somewhere, doing nice carvings for different people and different things,” Clive said.
Te Kūiti RSA president Barry Batley said Bill’s approach had been “quite a big move for Piopio.”
“He’s always had it in mind; he’s been persistent and consistent with what he’s been doing.”
Barry said the district president would take a request to Wellington, making it officially a sub-branch of Te Kūiti.
“You have to be registered, otherwise it comes under the flags and emblems act. You can’t just put a sign outside any building to say that you’re an RSA.”
Piopio Cosmopolitan Club president Waide Jones said their committee had been pleased to help.
“We were all very happy that Bill brought it to us nearly 12 months ago. We had a committee meeting, and it was unanimous. Everyone was happy.
“It’s all worked out well. It’s a good thing to keep alive, the RSA. If we don’t do things like this … we’re going to end up losing the history.”
Eighty people attended the launch there on Friday night.
