VICTOR FOUR COMPANY

NEW PLYMOUTH 2026​

Venue 

As there was no apparent bid by our members at the Turangi Reunion 2025, to host the 2026 reunion, I arranged to meet with Terry O’Kane in New Plymouth prior to Turangi 2025, where there are many reasonable hotel venues able to host reunions under the one roof. After several recce visits, the Plymouth International Hotel was chosen as it offered medium-range costs and facilities suitable to accommodate Reunion 2026.

At Turangi, the proposal was presented and approved by the members at the AGM. At that time, Anna Goldring was “told” she was Secretary/Treasurer, so there were three of us involved in the organising, with the occasional comment from Goldy.

This was followed up with a meeting with Graham Chard, President of the New Plymouth RSA. After discussions, he confirmed they could organise the V4 Memorial Service. This proved to be a good option, as they organised the service from start to finish and it went very well.

Meet & Greet - Tuesday 

We had a total of 50 attendees and four guests. Amongst those were three from Australia. Everyone began arriving from around 2pm and, after settling into their accommodation, headed to the bar to wait for the rest of the group to arrive and partake in pre-BBQ drinks. Catching up and reminiscing with each other was evident through laughter, as everyone enjoyed each other’s company, sharing memories and the occasional bit of “BS”.

Our motor-homeys arrived and took their place in the carpark. From the bar, everyone moved into the Blenheim Room that had been allocated to us for the duration of our stay – for the Memorial Service, AGM, and the Company Dinner on Wednesday.

A two-course BBQ buffet dinner was served, which was delicious and just the right amount. As usual, some of us were stayers into late evening, and there was a comment from one of our ladies to the bartender – “Close the bar, they’ve had enough.” No names mentioned.

Memorial Service - Wednesday 

After a hearty breakfast, we moved straight into the Memorial Service at 9:00am. Mike Subritzky (Army Padre) conducted an emotional service which began with the waiata “You Were There” by the Maori Volcanics Showband. The song was commissioned for the 1998 Welcome Home Parade and set the tone for the entire service.

Whakaaria Mai was sung, followed by our anthem Green, Green Grass of Home, and our final waiata “Man from Vietnam” by Dennis Marsh.

The Roll of Honour was read by Pitore. The wreath was laid by Pat Symons and Shirley Peters and then blessed by the Padre. The Ode to the Fallen was read in Te Reo and English by Graham Chard.

The New Zealand and Australian national anthems were sung by the group, followed by the Last Post and Reveille played by our bugler, Trevor Bremner.

Our sincere thanks go to Fite, who provided the music through his boom box and to Trevor our bugler who made our service extra special – much appreciated.

AGM 

Our AGM followed the Memorial Service. There were no volunteers to host our 60th V4 Anniversary in 2029, nor our 2027 V4 Reunion. However, we are confident that names will come forward once people have had time to consider hosting these two events.

Grahame arranged for engraved name plates to be attached to each of our flag poles for the seven Roll of Honour members. It was approved that he be reimbursed for the costs incurred.

It was also agreed that the Victor 4 Reunion bank account be closed. It appears we do not know who one of the signatories on the account is and, due to privacy regulations, the bank is unable to tell us who that is. This has made it difficult to change authorised signatories each year. Our current minutes gives this authority to close the account.

Afternoon Free Time 

After the AGM, the afternoon was free for everyone to do as they wished. Some visited local eateries, some went shopping, others caught up with friends, and a few simply relaxed by the pool. 3 

Company Dinner 

A two-course dinner began with freshly baked rolls, followed by a choice of roast beef or chicken breast, and finished with dessert – either fudge brownie or sticky toffee pudding. Deliciously yum!

Our guest speaker was Tony Hill, President of the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association, who spoke about the services that the RSA and Veterans’ Affairs provide. He reminded us that if help is needed, veterans need only ask. He finished with a waiata – a perfect rendition of “Sixteen Tons” to a rousing applause (better than the original, I say).

Graham Chard, President of the New Plymouth Returned and Services' Association, spoke about Project Cenotaph. He has been an ardent supporter of our reunion and did much of the groundwork for us in organising our reunion. The New Plymouth RSA is currently fundraising to restore the New Plymouth Cenotaph to its former glory, as it requires urgent repairs. In support of this project, a $500.00 koha was pledged to assist with the renovation.

Drinks and conversation continued into the night, with the same culprits from the previous evening staying to the bitter end – or at least until the bar closed.

Farewells – Thursday 

After breakfast, we gathered in the foyer for farewell time. There were hugs, kisses, and promises that we would meet again next year – confident that someone will step forward to organise the next reunion to give us somewhere to go and hang out.

Summary 

The V4 Reunion 2026 was successfully held at the Plymouth International Hotel in New Plymouth, bringing members together for three days of remembrance, camaraderie, and fellowship. An enjoyable event that allowed us to remember those who are no longer with us, reconnect with old mates, and continue the strong bonds of brotherhood.

Highlights included a moving Memorial Service conducted by Mike Subritzky, which opened with the waiata “You Were There” by the Maori Volcanics Showband. The AGM addressed reunion matters, including future reunion hosts and the closure of the Victor 4 Reunion bank account. Members enjoyed free time exploring New Plymouth and a well-attended Company Dinner with guest speaker Tony Hill of the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association. The reunion concluded with warm farewells and a shared commitment to meet again at the next V4 gathering.

Finally, I would like to acknowledge Terry and Goldy for their support in organising the reunion, and extend special thanks to Anna, whose administrative skills played a key role in ensuring our reunion ran smoothly and successfully. 

Cheers 

Bob Derwin 

Chairman 

V4 Reunion 2026 Committee ​

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