Twenty-seven Central Otago men recently received medals for compulsory military training (CMT), boosting the dwindling ranks of the Alexandra-Clyde Returned and Services Association (RSA).
Association committee member and president of the CMT sector Jock Braidwood said RSA numbers were dwindling as World War 1 and 2 veterans died.
"Without the RSA there would be no Anzac Day," he said.
The New Zealand Defence Service Medal is a new medal for New Zealanders who did non-operational military service, had served in the military for more than three years since World War 2, or who did compulsory military training or national military service.
Medals were presented to:
Alan Anderson, Alexandra; Goldy Bell, Alexandra; Wattie Beveridge, Alexandra; Jock Braidwood, Alexandra; Ken Cook, Alexandra; Lance Crack, Alexandra; Noel Culling, Alexandra; Gordon Divers, Alexandra; Nug Dowling, Alexandra; Peter Gott, Clyde; John Harris, Alexandra; Graeme Hastie, Alexandra; Graeme Johnson, Alexandra; Jim Kennedy, Alexandra; Forbes Knight, Millers Flat; Don Matheson, Omakau; Colin McMurray, Clyde; John McSkimming, Cromwell; Rex Parkin, Alexandra; Lance Peat, Cromwell; Garry Robinson, Roxburgh; Alistair Stuart, Alexandra; Gerald Stodart, Alexandra; Murray Thompson, Alexandra; Noel Timms, Alexandra; Tom Woodford, Alexandra.
Other Central Otago men to receive the medal include:
Alexander Boag, of Clyde, Brian Broadley, of Cromwell, Gordon Bush, of Clyde, Ray Carey, of Alexandra, David Dittmer, of Alexandra, Neville Kinney, of Alexandra, Edwin Lloyd, of Alexandra, Stanley Randle, of Earnscleugh, and Stuart Sinclair, of Alexandra.
