Greetings from Wellington Hutt Valley Malayan Veterans Assn.

Some four years ago the Government gazetted September 16th to be known as Malaya Post War Operations Commemoration day, colloquially known to us as Malayan Veterans Day (MVA).

Each year the celebration and the commemoration gets bigger, and this years ceremony will again be held in Wellington at the National War Memorial on Wednesday 16th September at 1100 hrs.

It falls on the shoulders of the Hutt Valley branch of the MVA to arrange a program for this event and it is attached.

We have scheduled activities over two days to make it worth while for out of town personnel to attend, rather than returning home after the 1 hour service in the Hall of Memories.

The other good thing is that all the activities scheduled are free !! You only pay for your meals etc.

Many veterans observe this day now at their local RSA, and this is to be commended and encouraged, but if you are free and want to catch up with old mates then Wellington will welcome you.

Our base is the Petone Working Men's Club (PWMC) in Udy Street Petone. There are quite a few motels in the area for out of town people to stay at, and most of them are close to the Petone Working Men's Club.

Depending on numbers, there will be a bus for the Tuesday program, for the Hall of Memories tour and the World War 1, Sir Peter Jackson's display in the Great Hall behind the Hall of Memories.

The bus will return to Petone after the Last Post ceremony, (which is held at the tomb of the Unknown Warrior) at approx 1730 Hrs.

A bus will certainly be laid on for the Commemoration service on the Wednesday, returning after the service to the PWMC at approx 12 noon.

Parking is extremely limited in and around that precinct, so we would recommend using the bus that we plan to lay on.

The National Service of Remembrance will be held in the Hall of Memories On Wednesday Sept 16th, and seating is restricted. The venue only holds 110 persons approximately.

This service is conducted under the control of the Visits and Ceremonial Office and it is by invitation.

If you would like an invitation, please let us know and a formal one will be issued (numbers permitting).

Given that Diplomats, Local dignitaries and Military Personnel will also be attending, please send in your request NOW !

The deadline for receiving your request is August 30th as we need to forward the names to the VCO office

Our Secretary Bill Henderson will be pleased to record your name, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
if you have any questions for anything being organised for the activities please email me.

Kind regards

Bill Russell
Vice President
NZ Malayan Veterans Assn

email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Activities Malayan Veterans Day September 2015.

Tuesday September 15th

11.30 Hrs Fellowship, meet and greet each other at Petone Working Mens Club.

1200 Hrs Lunch at Petone Working Mens Club (own cost)
1330 Hrs Transport to leave for the Hall of Memories

1400 Hrs Guided tour through the Hall of Memories
With Paul Riley curator

1500 Hrs Guided tour through the World War 1 museum display in the Great Hall
By Lt. Gen (Rtd) Rhys Jones - Project Director.

Book Launch "The Plain View" by Kim Hoskins
Afternoon tea in Museum cafeteria (own cost)

1700 Hrs Last post at Tomb of Unknown Warrior.
(Dress code: Smart with medals)

Wednesday September 16th (MVA Day)

0945 Hrs Bus departs for National War Memorial
(Dress code: Suit with medals)

1100 Hrs National War Memorial ceremony in Hall of Memories

1200 Hrs Retire to Petone Working Mens Club for lunch (own cost)

1400 Hrs Music by Raw Silk
View display of memorabilia in PWMC

1600 Hrs Beat a retreat...RTB !!

There are several motels around the Petone area:

Du Pont Motel 95 Hutt Road, Petone
Tel 04 5693799

Foreshore Motor Lodge 5 Nelson Street, Petone
Tel 04 9393609

Midway Pacifica Lodge 89 Hutt Road, Petone
Tel 04 5693735

The 2 motels in Hutt Road are within walking distance of the Petone Club where the bus will leave from.

Other motels in the Petone area are:

Foreshore Motor Lodge cnr Esplanade and Nelson St. Petone
Tel 0508 10 10 10

BK's Esplanade Motor Lodge, 189 The Esplande, Petone
Tel (04) 589 7501

83 By the Sea, 83 The Esplanade, Petone
Tel (04) 569 8121