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Post by beagle on Apr 26, 2012 21:08:19 GMT 12
Did anyone go to the memorial at Hobby last week
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Post by McFly on Apr 26, 2012 21:23:36 GMT 12
Beags, the Hobsonville Memorial will be offically unvielled this coming Saturday (28th) at 2:00pm. I'll post up the sequence of events tomorrow. As well, there is an Air Force Charter parade in Auckland City on the Saturday morning + fly over. See: www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1204/S00604/air-force-takes-to-streets-of-auckland-for-75th-anniversary.htmAir Force to march through Auckland for 75th anniversary celebrations
Swords will be drawn, bayonets fixed and ceremonial flags flown high through the streets of Auckland this Saturday when the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) parades through Auckland to celebrate their 75th anniversary.
The military parade of more than 200 men and women from the RNZAF, will march from Greys Avenue along Mayoral Drive onto Queen Street, and halt outside the Town Hall where the Mayor of Auckland will present a new Auckland charter to the RNZAF.
The custom of granting freedom of a city through a charter dates back to the middle ages when kings used to divide their kingdoms between a few nobles who were responsible for providing armed men, should the need arise. The elements of the charter refer to the right to march through the street with drums beating, colours unfurled, swords drawn and bayonets fixed. In modern times the granting of the freedom of a city is a way for a civic authority to express a close relationship with a military service.
His Worship the Mayor, Len Brown, mayor of Auckland City will review the parade, along with the chief of the Air Force, Air Vice-Marshal Peter Stockwell. RNZAF Aircraft will perform a flypast at 9:45am (weather permitting).
After the ceremony the parade will march down Queen Street to Wellesley Street before returning up Queen Street, rendering a military salute to the mayor and assembled guests in front of the Town Hall.
What: RNZAF Parade to mark the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s 75th Anniversary
Where: Auckland – Departing Greys Avenue to Queen Street, via Mayoral Drive arriving at the Town Hall at 9:15am.
When: Saturday 28 April |
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Post by meo4 on Apr 26, 2012 22:48:24 GMT 12
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Post by stu on Apr 27, 2012 9:56:44 GMT 12
I went with my wife and daughter to the Hobsonville Point market last Sunday followed by a quick look around the remains of the base. Later that day I went back with a camera and took a bit of a longer stroll around. Hopefully this link to my Facebook album works - www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150693194107584.390916.756702583&type=3&l=ee72a5fecfKind of sad to see the base as it is now, knowing that soon it'll just be another Auckland suburb. |
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Post by McFly on Apr 27, 2012 12:01:45 GMT 12
Hobsonville Memorial Unveiling 28 April 2012
The Hobsonville Memorial unveiling will occur at the Flagpole on the former Hobsonville Station at 1400hrs on Saturday 28 April.
The dedication for this memorial "TO ALL WHO HAVE PASSED THIS WAY" pays tribute to the men and women of the service or civilians for whom Hobsonville Air Base was their place of home or work during 1928 - 2002. The memorial is a Hobsonville Old Boys Association project with support from the Hobsonville Land Company and RNZAF. CAF will be unveiling the memorial
All personnel and families are invited to attend the ceremony commencing at 1400hrs. Dress for the service is No 3SD with ribbons or service equivalent. A programme for this event is attached. The Base POC is XO OSW AK, SQNLDR Severn Smith Ext 7100.
________________________________________
RUNNING SHEET
UNVEILING & DEDICATION OF THE HOBSONVILLE MEMORIAL
1400 HRS – SATURDAY 28 APRIL 2012
“Past, Present & Future”
18/4/12
TIME ACTIVITY
1400 Hobsonville Old Boys Association marches on
1405 Mihi and Waiata by George Taua and others of Te Kawerau a Maki
1410 MC - Paul Parker responds, welcomes all and introduces Ian Ronalds
1412 Ian Ronalds, President of Hobsonville Old Boys Association introduces the project and explains history and why the Memorial was conceived – the Past
1417 Paul Parker introduces Chris Aiken
1418 Chris Aiken, Chief Executive of Hobsonville Land Company speaks and introduces Chief of Air Force
1423 Chief of Air Force ( Air Vice Marshall Peter Stockwell) speaks on history of RNZAF and other services at Hobsonville and other sentiments as appropriate to the occasion
1428 CAF invites HOBA and HLC nominees to to gather to unveil the Memorial
1430 CAF and nominees unveil the Memorial. Photographs, hand-shaking, etc
1430 FLY-OVER
1432 Blessing & dedication – Rev Paul Allen-Baines
1435 Salute, Last Post, Reveille
1437 Closing mihi and waiata led by of Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara
1442 Band and all present – God Defend New Zealand
1444 Paul Parker thanks NWoK, announces conclusion of ceremony and invites guests to afternoon tea.
1445 Parade dismisses
Band plays at Memorial, then marches off to Sunderland Lounge and disbands.
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Post by beagle on Apr 27, 2012 12:05:24 GMT 12
heard you were going to buy your old Kay Cres place.
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Post by alanw on Apr 28, 2012 19:52:58 GMT 12
I went today, pretty special time, though tinged with sadness. Not alot of people there, NZDF personnel, Hobsonville Old Boys/Women, and small collection of others. The Hobsonville Land Company did make mention of a ferry terminal. The memorial is directly behind the flagpole, quite nice, apparently another memorial was at the front gate until destroyed for construction - Really Is nothing sacred anymore !!!  I do have a photo of it from previous visits  I went down to the apron after, and work has begun on breaking up the hard near the ramp obviously for the ferry. The bomb dump has been opened to the public, my 6yr old daughter who went with me, enjoyed it and we even visited the range and found a few tidbits, all the sand stop in the target area has gone, leaving clay only. You can't drive to the rear gate any more, it's all fenced off for contstruction. I hope to post some photos once I have down loaded it from the camera. Regards Alan |
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Post by beagle on Apr 28, 2012 19:55:46 GMT 12
That will be great to see the images.
What aircraft did the flyover
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Post by alanw on Apr 28, 2012 20:06:48 GMT 12
6 Squadron Sea Sprite, it went by so fast, didn't even get time to get the camera up. It did one pass at low altitude and disappeared into the distance. Was hoping that it would go around again, it flew by while AVM Stockwell was still giving his speech. Talk about timing, he had to wait till it went by to resume. Possible oops by someone?  ;D |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 28, 2012 21:43:41 GMT 12
The Air Force's way of telling him to cut it short maybe?  |
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Post by alanw on Apr 30, 2012 22:20:53 GMT 12
The Air Force's way of telling him to cut it short maybe? Hi Dave He did make mention of that- good sense of humour  Anyway, have some photos finally -please excuse any fuzziness, they were taken from a video camera RNZAF Band leads the march on  Hobsonville Old Boys - Stand Easy Hobsonvile history given by President of Old Boys  Preparing to unveil Memorial  Unveilled (from the back)  Memorial Dedication - RNZAF Chaplain  Bugler plays Last Post - Lowering of RNZAF Ensign   Interestingly enough the weather up until this point had been great (bit windy), as soon as the bugle sounded and the Ensign was lowered, it began to rain Picture of part of the memorial (too many people trying to take photos)  Some photos of Hobby now The Hard Apron being broken up -probably for the ferry terminal??    Bomb Dump open to the Public  Road around back of Hobby -now closed due to construction  I wonder if they have found anything interesting whilst digging it up? The old range -target area just clay now  Interesting shot of the roof-few missed shots or ricochetts  Hope you enjoy Regards Alan |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 30, 2012 23:02:25 GMT 12
Oh man that is just heartbreaking to see the wet apron hardstand being chomped up.  |
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Post by alanw on May 1, 2012 15:35:38 GMT 12
Oh man that is just heartbreaking to see the wet apron hardstand being chomped up. I won't repeat on line, my comment on seeing that |
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Post by beagle on May 1, 2012 17:27:18 GMT 12
Got to have some progress in life.
So they sent just one Seasprite over.
Thought being ex 3 Sqn for such a long time that they might have sent an Iroquois.
Now after it has all finished etc and the area down below is tickety boo, it would be nice to have the PBY land and taxi up the ramp, if they keep the same original ramp.
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Post by McFly on May 1, 2012 18:47:03 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 1, 2012 22:49:06 GMT 12
Hey, there's Alan making a cameo in the third shot, isn't it?
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Post by lesterpk on May 2, 2012 0:52:22 GMT 12
Anyone else think the plaque is wrong? "From 1928 to 2002....."
Pretty sure it should read a later date as there are still RNZAF units at the base.
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 2, 2012 9:57:14 GMT 12
Is it only referring to the airstrip being open rather than as a base as such?
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Post by alanw on May 2, 2012 16:08:10 GMT 12
Hey, there's Alan making a cameo in the third shot, isn't it? Guilty as Charged M'Lord ;D ;D I did wonder if any other forum members were there. Looks like we were filming each other (in a manner of speaking) How cool is that eh? |
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Post by tbird75756 on Feb 4, 2013 21:43:47 GMT 12
Hi, I'm the flag raiser in the images, my grandfather lived on Hobsonville base with my mother and family. He was a Warrant Officer of 5SQN, helped bring the P-3 Orions over from the US and I think also had a hand in bringing the C-130 Hercules over too. His name was Alexander Preston Miller, known as "Randy"  So yeah, I had a connection to the Hobby base which was very cool for me standing there with flag duty. I currently hold the rank of F/S in cadet forces as at 2013. Cheers |
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;D
So yeah, I had a connection to the Hobby base which was very cool for me standing there with flag duty. I currently hold the rank of F/S in cadet forces as at 2013. Cheers