![]() This year, we want to show New Zealand that not all veterans are old. “The Poppy Appeal and Anzac Day are our annual opportunity to remember the sacrifices made by our Armed Forces. In the last year over 45% of support provided by the RSA was received by those under 60 years of age. The RSA has 250 support advisors across the country providing a range of services to veterans. The appeal has a strong digital focus this year and people can donate online at or by scanning the QR code on the posters and newspaper ads that support the appeal.ġ00% of donations received by the RSA go towards funding support services. This year’s Poppy Appeal will run throughout the month of April, with the street appeal known as Poppy Day, occurring on 22 April. This can have a profound effect on both them and their families, and the RSA is here to ensure that when they need help, they have access to appropriate support.” While most will return to their normal lives with no issues, some will struggle to reintegrate, they might be injured or experience ongoing mental health issues as a result of their service. These men and women have served in areas from Bosnia to Timor Leste, Iraq, Afghanistan, across the Pacific and even Antarctica. In the last 30 years New Zealand has created over 30,000 veterans under the age of 50. They come home with little fanfare, and return to a society that has no real understanding of what they’ve been part of. “Many New Zealanders don’t understand that even on peacekeeping missions our service people can be affected mentally and physically by both the environment they serve in, and the situations they are exposed to. The RSA’s National President BJ Clark, said that today’s veterans aren’t acknowledged in the same way their predecessors were but still have a very real need for support. With the words: “The RSA is old, not every veteran that we support is,” the RSA’s Poppy Appeal is officially underway, and this year hopes to raise awareness of New Zealand’s younger veterans while raising much needed funds for support services.
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