Photos; Courtesy of Dawn Pehi.

‘Gordy’ Nairn Reports

This reunion started with a phone call and a request for an informal gathering of whoever could attend at short notice.
​So six weeks later, on 21st June, the reunion started.

29 Veterans and 40 whanau attended, four from the South Island, three from Australia and one from Rarotonga.

The weather was great, cold (8°C) but no rain. Fantastic view of the mountains and the snow.

The reunion was centred on the Taupō Cosmopolitan Club and we were well looked after by the staff.

Gary Brandon very kindly opened the “Onward Bar” for us on the Wednesday afternoon, and it was there that we had a quick meeting where, besides the usual admin, decided that the next reunion should be in Takaka sometime in March 2023. Phil and Judy O’Connor will organise this event and more details will be sent out soon.

The Onward Bar is a great venue and a very busy display of memorabilia, plus a great log fire to warm us up.
Thank you Gary for your hospitality.

Wednesday evening we had a Buffet Dinner with lots of laughter, usually at someone’s expense!

Thursday dawned with a frost, and a cool wind soon sprung up across the lake. We gathered at the Cenotaph outside the Taupo Event Centre and under the guidance of Padre Fite we honoured our fallen - Squirrel and Wheelie read the names of all 78 of them. Seven V4 Roll of Honour and seventy one In Memoriam. It is at times like this that you realise the importance of keeping in touch with one another.

Lunch was at the Cossie Club from where we departed for home.

Thank you for those who made special effort to attend, Hugh, Doc, John, Bubs and Phil.
​With special thanks to Awhi Wylie, Mo Paenga’s sister, for her attendance.

Gary Brandon is a NZ Army Veteran who served in East Timor, Bosnia and with Andy Peters in Iraq as Security.
He was severely wounded.

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(CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE)

Taupo 2022

VICTOR FOUR COMPANY