A reunion is a meeting of former colleagues. A meeting where those attending reminisce about their days together, bring each other up to date on how their lives have progressed and also remember those who are unable to attend.

The RNZAOC has in the past held three major reunion events;

• 1965 – The 50th Corps Celebration (based on the 1915 foundation of the NZAOC)
• 1983 – National Corps Reunion, and
• 1992- The 75th Corps Celebration (based on the 1917 foundation of the NZAOC)

Note the disparity between the anniversaries that the 1965 and 1992 reunions were commemorating, both dates are in fact accurate as 1915 saw the formation of the NZAOC as part of the NZEF and the Ordnance Section as part of the RNZA, with the NZAOC as part of the New Zealand Permanent Forces gazetted in 1917.

Since the amalgamation of the RNZAOC into the Royal New Zealand Army Logistic Regiment in 1996, RNZAOC reunions have become rare and apart from the occasional informal gathering organised around the 12th of July to celebrate the RNZAOC Corps day, formal RNZAOC reunions have been few in number. A successful reunion was held in at the Ngaruawahia RSA in 2016 followed by a small gathering in Palmerston North in 2017 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the formation of the NZAOC in 1917.

2016 RNZAOC Reunion, Ngawahaiwa

2016 Corps Day reunion, Palmerston North Rear Left to Right: Tony (Wingnut) Rogers, Terry McBeth, Richard Tyler, Rob Mckie, Merv Hutley, Kevin Sigglekow, Peter Cox, Brian Crafts, Peter Dellabarca, Front Row Left to Right: Ray Benseman, Willie Simonsen, Phil Blundell, Dave Morris.

The great news is that former Corps member, Georgina Tupara has taken up the initiative and is organising an RNZAOC Corps reunion for Labour Weekend 2020. Planned to be held in Whanganui over the period 24-16 October 2020, which in New Zealand’s Labour Weekend, the details of the reunion are yet to be confirmed but the weekend will consist of a Friday night meet up, Saturday night function and Sunday breakfast.

To pre-register for this event and keep up with its progress, please contact Georgina through the Facebook page she has established for this event at the  RNZAOC Reunion 2020 Facebook page; alternatively, Georgina can be approached by EMail at georgietupara@yahoo.com.au.