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As has become a special day in our club's annual programme, this years ANZAC Day Breakfast, was no exception. A good crowd of 37, including 10 guests, were very fortunate to hear a war story that in all likelihood they had never heard before. A review of the guest speaker's talk is covered off below, but first one club notice; - After a year's absence due to Covid, the Have a Go (HAG), sailing programme, which is partly sponsored by SJRC, is back. This year Orakei Marine are also back supporting the ST.RC. Thank you Orakei Marine. A big thank you also to New Zealand Yachting who run the programme which is commencing at Akarana Yacht Club on May 10th. Weather permitting, the programme will run for 12 days and if any members are interested in getting up close and personal to the action, please contact Gary Key.
 
 Our guest speaker today was Philip Fry, an RSA Service Member from the Orakei RSA, a member of the New Zealand Military Historical Society, and a member of the Officers Club of Auckland. Phil wanted to share with us a story titled "Snake Boat out of Hong Kong." This is a true story about Philips wife's family who were living in Hong Kong in December 1941, when the Japanese invaded Hong Kong. Philips wife Margaret and her sister Marie were young girls when this traumatic event, which lasted over two years, occurred. Not only were we very fortunate to have Philip share this story on behalf of the family, both Margaret and Marie accompanied him to our meeting this morning.  This photo is of the two girls taken in the 1940's. After the invasion, the father who was a ships engineer working away from Hong Kong, managed to escape from the Japanese on a merchant ship which took him to Melbourne. From Melbourne in early 1942 he began his mission to return to occupied Hong Kong and smuggle his family out of Hong Kong. Despite travelling through many war torn areas from Australia through Singapore, India, China and Macau over a two year period he completed his mission, against all odds, with the family eventually arriving in New Zealand in 1944. The family's story was originally captured in a book written by a ghost writer. Philip and Margaret,s son has only recently re-written the story in a book titled "Snake Boat out of Hong Kong" which will soon be released. Philips talk supported by numerous pieces of memorabilia such as maps, letters, uniforms, medals and photographs, was a perfect match for our ANZAC breakfast. A very big thank you from the RCof SJ to the Fry family for sharing this amazing story with us.  A big thank you also to Michele Mann for providing the ANZAC ‘touches’ for the tables and to Katrina Bell for assisting Club Services Director , IPP Robyn, with the special ‘set-up’ for our ANZAC meeting. Lastly a big thanks to Tom for his thanks and close - both hit the spot perfectly. |
THURSDAY APRIL 29th - Breakfast Meeting - Guest Speaker Margaret Voyce;
I wish our Taupo meetings were as much fun! Great to see you Donald. We trust all is going well in Taupo for you.
