Christmas Message
On behalf of the Committee of the RNZNCA, I would like to wish all association members and their families all the very best for a safe and happy Christmas and New\ Year period, and for a healthy and prosperous 2022.
2021 did not turn out as well as was hoped for at the beginning of the year. Clearly, we are going to be living with ever-changing situations for some time to come. These changes will impact many of us and our activities in various ways. (The changes to our reunion are but one example of this.) In the sea change surrounding us, we are all in the life raft together and, hopefully, we will survive it all and come out the other side safely.
For that those of you who are able to enjoy the family gathering aspects of the Christmas season, may you have a wonderful time with them and create many happy memories. If you are unable to get together with your family due to travel and other restrictions, I hope you are able to at least link up via video calls. A poor substitute, I know, but better than the RADFONE calls from the FES that we had to rely on for family connections at Christmas, birthdays and other family occasions.
Whatever you do over the festive season, look after yourself and your family. Celebrate the season in the true spirit of Christmas, wherever you are and whoever you are with.
Gary Houghton
President RNZNCA
December 2021
Merry Christmas to Diane, yourself and family. Have a safe and happy New Year.
Merry Christmas to Everyone and their Families, and let’s hope 2022 is a happy one where we can get back to almost normal life
Agree with your sentiments Gary – a different time indeed meaning many changes from the ‘old days’. I think everyone will be enjoying Christmas this year with some relief.
Merry Christmas to you & the committee, working always in our interests, and to all our members and hopefully everyone has good health for 2022.
As we end another year still dealing with the pandemic, it is not difficult to envisage the pandemic continuing in the new year affecting our lives, our businesses, our relationships, our financial security and importantly our health. We can only wish that the vaccination of sufficient of us will serve to keep most of us free of the worst aspect of Covid19, Delta, Omicron and the expected subsequent variants. From my perspective, the RNZNCA highlight of year was our collaboration with other likeminded military groups to witness government approval to award the New Zealand Operational Service Medal [NZOSM] to those who served under the FESR-ANZUK banner. There is still more NZOSM work to be done – but, that’s on hold until early next year. Enjoy your Christmas to the max – and may 2022 bring you bags of happiness together with much success.