This year’s Poppy Day collection in the Upper Clutha raised over $10,000 from generous donors.  

A small portion of the money collected covers the annual collection costs, such as the hiring of EFTPOS machines and purchase of poppies, but the bulk goes to Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association (RSA) Welfare Trust, which is based in Dunedin and provides aid and assistance to former service personnel and their families.

The RSA Welfare Trust trustees oversee the reallocation of these funds to applicants across the region. 

Wānaka RSA committee member Lyal Cocks is a trustee and he explained to the Wānaka App the nature of the distribution process. 

Wanaka RSA committee members Lyal Cocks (left) and Ralph Fegan, with Kris Vollebregt (centre) of Te Kakano, unveiled a memorial at Eely Point in 2020.

Donations from Poppy Day collections organised by RSAs throughout Otago, including Dunedin, Cromwell, Maniototo and the Upper Clutha, are collectively shared throughout Otago, he said.

The RSA Welfare Trust offers support, advocacy, assistance and advice about the many community and social services, allowances and pensions available to service and ex-service people, police and their dependents. 

The annual Poppy Day collection pays for two part-time staff; an administrator, and a support advisor whose role is to determine the needs of former service personnel in the region and provide guidance to access central government resources or more direct help with financial assistance.

Advice is available to all returned and associated service personnel, regardless of RSA membership.

Applications for financial assistance come before the trustees, who decide how the funds will be reallocated, Lyal said.

He said some applicants don’t need direct funding, rather they just need help securing central government support to which they’re entitled.

Others have needs which are not covered by central government but are beyond their own financial savings, such as for podiatry, hearing aids and mobility scooter batteries. Some funds were even approved for a former service person to attend the Invictus Games recently, he said. 

“This is how the generous donations collected each year are redistributed,” Lyal said.

“They truly make a difference in the lives of many former service men and women and their families.”

Lyal has been an  RSA Welfare Trust trustee for more than 10 years but says he’s only seen a handful of applications from the Upper Clutha.

“I don’t know exactly why so few locals apply for support but it’s nice to think that some of the Poppy money collected in the Upper Clutha will return to help a local service person,” he said. 

For more information about the Dunedin RSA Welfare Trust click here.  For a confidential appointment with the trust’s support advisor phone 0800 664 888, or email [email protected].

PHOTO: Wānaka App