Imagine if Howick RSA members and community citizens gathered in central Howick Village to recite the Ode of Remembrance every Friday evening, traditionally 6pm.
Under the Eternal Flame of the Howick Returned and Services Association (HRSA) at the Howick War Memorial building, with three flags flying above including its own.
That’s one of the visions of incoming HRSA president, Barry Dreyer, whose position was confirmed along with his new supportive executive committee at the association’s annual meeting last Saturday at the Howick Club.
Dreyer met with the Times this week, his first engagement with news media since taking up his new role with huge responsibilities.
The other flags Dreyer proposes that could flutter in the breeze “on two new flagpoles” above the building that has been known as the Howick Information Centre are the New Zealand ensign and that of the former Howick Borough Council.
Dreyer and his executive colleagues believe there’s also a strong case and historical tie to the Howick War Memorial constructed in the 1950s, with the military common factor.
This conclusion and many more are the findings of the HRSA Working Group that Dreyer has been the chair of and asked to make recommendations on the association’s “structure, responsibilities and activities going forward”.
Those were tabled, discussed and agreed to by the RSA members at the general meeting.
“That the tasks and compositions of the Working Group be extended until the 2025 AGM, to provide guidance and support of the implementation of the agreed plan,” the motion reads.
In a detailed and direct message, Dreyer expanded on his idea for the HRSA to use the Howick War Memorial Hall.
“The HRSA has no satisfactory base, needs a visible and easily accessible ‘shop front’ for easy access and to be successful, and contribute to the Howick community,” Dreyer says.
“The HRSA has an opportunity to lease the Howick War Memorial Hall and discussions [with landlords Auckland Council] are ongoing but have some way to go.
“The hall is the most suitable Howick location for HRSA welfare activities. It’s after all a war memorial hall and it’s in the centre of Howick.”
Dreyer says the HRSA could be the head tenant and permanently staff the hall, “to be used as Howick’s welfare centre, our HQ and for engaging with like community groups”.
Membership numbers have declined since before the Covid era, from 2000-3000 to 534, and Dreyer and his executive are determined to address that, while returning HRSA activities to their origins, including not being directly involved in hospitality.
“There’s an urgent need to focus on our core objectives.”
He explains they are: Delivery of Veteran support and welfare, delivery of community support, coordination of remembrance and commemorative events, governance of investments, and personnel and statutory requirements.
Other objectives are: Promote HRSA supporters and members from non-service personnel, promote the image and function of HRSA in the wider Howick region, education in the community, establish strong relationships and coordinate with other community groups, and provide fellowship and camaraderie for members.
There are also plans to “placing of investment monies in the hands of professional managers and in the longer-term rationalisation of the number and structure of the trusts”.
Dreyer says the Working Group’s conclusion and objective is clear.
“HRSA, with its 91 years of active welfare involvement and commemoration in the Howick region, is worth securing and fighting for.
“With proper rationalisation, funds available for welfare and community distribution will be substantially higher than available at present.
“Our generation can recreate a highly respected HRSA operation, providing an accessible, combined welfare and support shop front to the people of Howick, and particularly to those in need.”
