Bugle player honoured for long service
Oamaru Garrison Band member Andrew Hayes (centre) with family and friends at the Hakataramea War Memorial on Anzac Day. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
An Oamaru man who has played the bugle at Oamaru Anzac commemorations for 60 years and at Hakataramea for 37 years, has been honoured this year.
Andrew Hayes received a special presentation at the dawn service at Hakataramea, attended by family and friends.
Mr Hayes said he was "surprised" his family were there to support his achievement — but it was not the first time.
"They also came to support me on my 50th anniversary, too," he said.
Two of his sons, his grandson and three out of four Hayes siblings were at Hakataramea to celebrate the occasion.
He also acknowledged Neville Cowles for his 65 years of bugle playing at Anzac services.
His brother Vernon Hayes said Andrew was "very pleased and blown away" with the tribute.
"I'm very proud of him. The presentation was rightfully deserved."
Mr Hayes' first memory of Anzac Day was attending a parade in Hampden at the age of 9 with his father and grandfather. "My father served in the Pacific and Italy in World War 2, and my grandfather served in World War 2 in Sinai and Egypt."
It remained important to turn out on Anzac Day to honour their service overseas, and he was happy to see commemoration attendance numbers increase in recent years.
Mr Hayes has been in the Oamaru Garrison band since 1963. A euphonium player, he also practises the bugle for up to two months to play The Last Post and Reveille for Anzac Day. His son Colin also plays in the band.
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