It’s an odd thing, in this day and age, to struggle to give money away.
But that’s the situation facing the recently-formed Whakatipu Poppy Trust, which already has about $100,000 in its coffers before proceeds last Friday’s Poppy Day are added in.
The trust, formed over a year ago by the Arrowtown and Queenstown Returned and Services’ Associations, exists to financially assist any returned servicepeople, or any of their direct relatives, with welfare needs.
Secretary Kirsten Dennison says, at the moment, ‘‘we can’t find people to give the money to’’.
‘‘It’s proving to be quite difficult, which is a shame.’’
She notes ‘welfare’ has a broad definition and could include study, specialist education support for veterans’ children, or funding for medical or dental treatment.
‘‘Recently in Alexandra there was a vet whose eyesight was going, so they were redoing the bathroom and putting rails in and lots of different things.
‘‘The call went out to a lot of RSAs to help [and] the Whakatipu Poppy Trust offered some funds there, as well.’’
And Dennison says even if a person’s already received funding from the trust, they’re not precluded from applying again.
Anyone interested in applying can contact the Whakatipu’s RSAs directly by emailing [email protected] or [email protected].
Applications are received and considered year-round.
Meantime, Queenstown’s Anzac Day Dawn Service will be held from 6.30am this Thursday, at the Marine Parade Memorial Gates; that will be
followed by a march to the Queenstown Memorial Centre where wreaths will be laid.
In Arrowtown, the parade will assemble at 10am at Buckingham St’s Athenaeum Hall to march to the cenotaph, on Durham St, for the civic service, which starts at 10.30am.
