17 April 2009 Vietnam veteran guest speaker at Lincoln's ANZAC Day service

Lincoln resident and Vietnam veteran Bill Barnes, is the guest speaker at this year's Lincoln community Anzac  Day service in Memorial Hall at Lincoln University.

The service, to be conducted by the University's ecumenical chaplain Rev. Glenda Hicks, starts at 10.00am following the sounding of the Last Post by bugler Douglas Michael of Dunsandel.

Anzac Day services have been held in Memorial Hall at Lincoln University for many years and since 2008 the University has been recognised by Selwyn District Council as the official site for the Anzac service in the Lincoln area. Last year's attendance was over 120.

In this year's service, three of the University's Future Leaders Scholars  -  Megan Ash, Laura Fisher and Lynne Robertson  -  will deliver addresses on the service personnel of the First and Second World Wars then the guest speaker, Mr Barnes, will reflect on the contributions made by New Zealand servicemen and servicewomen in operational theatres worldwide since 1945, including Vietnam. 

Mr Barnes, a former Adjutant of 16 Field Regiment, Royal New Zealand Artillery, served in Vietnam with 161 Battery. In a later career with the RNZAF he was Defence Attache at the New Zealand Embassy in Seoul, Korea. He is the author of several books including the 50th jubilee history of Rannerdale War Veterans' Home and “Voices from Vietnam” published in 2008 to coincide with the national Vietnam Service Commemoration and Reunion, Tribute 08.

All members of the public are welcome to the Anzac service at Lincoln University, which will be followed by morning tea in the University Dining Hall.