Upper Waitaki RSA president Michael Blackstock said the dawn service on April 25 at the Hakataramea memorial would be followed by a breakfast at the Kurow Hotel, which would give the public a chance to sample stout based on a recipe invented by a member of the Otago Mounted Rifles, during World War 1.
''The stout was based on a recipe that was brewed by Alec Cowie, an officer in the Otago Mounted Rifles. He supplied the beer to troops training and waiting to embark for overseas action.''
He added that Mr Cowie himself was badly wounded at Gallipoli and was never able to work fully again.
''The bull's head on the bottle is a revival of the original label of the Cowie Brewery Company. It operated in Caversham, Dunedin, until it burned down in 1921.''
The brewery never reopened and the recipe was lost, but a tipple thought to be close to the original recipe was recently brewed by the Emerson's Brewery as a fundraiser for the military section display in Toitu Otago Settlers Museum, he said.
He said those attending the 11am parade from the Omarama Memorial Hall to the Memorial Rock service would would also have a chance to sample the drink at a brunch at the Omarama Fire Brigade building.
Upper Waitaki services would start with the dawn service at the Hakataramea memorial at 6.15am, and would then be followed by services at the Kurow Cemetery gates at 8.15am, the Otekaieke memorial gates at 8.45am, and the Duntroon Cenotaph at 9.15am.
At 11am, a march would take place from the Omarama Memorial Hall to the Memorial Rock, before a service at the Memorial Rock.
North Otago commemorations would start with a 6.30am service at the Oamaru World War 1 memorial, then be followed by services at the Alma war memorial at 7.15am, the Pukeuri war memorial at 8.30am, and services at the Papakaio war memorial and the Enfield Presbyterian Church at 9am.
Services at the Maheno war memorial, Hampden war memorial and Georgetown war memorial would take place at 10am.
The main service is at 10.30am, with a parade from the South African War memorial in Oamaru down Thames St to the World War 1 memorial and then to the Oamaru Garden of Memories for an 11am service.
In preparation for Anzac Day, War memorials in North Otago have received a bit of extra care from the Rotary Club.
Waitaki Rotary Club publicity director Graham Keep said Rotary clubs in the region had each chosen a memorial to tidy up.
''Our Rotary district have requested that each Rotary club assist in tidying up a North Otago war memorial. After a survey around North Otago, Waitaki Rotary decided to tidy up the Georgetown Memorial.''
Mr Keep said club members sprayed the memorial last Friday, to remove moss and weather staining.andrew.ashton@odt.co.nz
