6 April 2010 

The announcement by Prime Minister John Key with RNZRSA National President Robin Klitscher © FRANCIS OLIVER PHOTOGRAPHY LTD

Christchurch Man Inaugural ANZAC of the Year

The Prime Minister John Key announced today that Christchurch man Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) John Milbanke Masters ONZM MC JP has been awarded the inaugural ANZAC of the Year award.

The award was instituted by the Royal New Zealand Returned Services’ Association (RNZRSA) to recognise the ANZAC qualities of comradeship, compassion, courage and commitment.

Lt Col Masters was chosen from nominations received from throughout New Zealand.

RNZRSA National President Robin Klitscher said Lt Col Masters was an excellent choice as both his career in the Army and after were guided significantly by the traits the award sought to recognise.

"He is a decorated Army officer who served for 27 years. During that time he was awarded the Military Cross for rescuing a wounded Gurkha Warrant Officer under extremely difficult circumstances. He was also made a life member of the Gurkha Regimental Association's Sirmoor Club – an honour normally restricted to Gurkhas."

As well as seeing service in Borneo, Lt Col Masters served in Vietnam as the seventh battery commander of the New Zealand Artillery Battery, a position he still held when the Battery returned to New Zealand in May 1971.

After retiring from the Army in April 1983 Lt Col Masters held several senior management roles in business.

"But he retained his interest in the Army and its soldiers; indeed in all veterans," Mr Klitscher said.

"He was heavily involved in Rannerdale War Veterans home and was instrumental in raising substantial funds to allow the home to stay open and to be upgraded."

"His personal testimony to the Health Select Committee was crucial to breaking open the facts of exposure to chemicals during service in Viet Nam, thus enabling follow-up investigation into the matter to take place on a firm footing.  He was subsequently a Trustee of the Viet nam Veterans and their Families Trust; and has also been a panellist assisting with War Pension applications."

In 2002 Lt Col Masters was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM).

The award is a bronze statuette based on the famous Gallipoli image "Man with the donkey" and designed by official New Zealand Army artist Matt Gauldie. 

To watch the presentation of the ANZAC of the Year Award by the Prime Minister to Allan Masters, representing his father who was to ill to travel to Auckland, please go to www.maoritelevision.com

A presentation of the Anzac Award to Lt Col (Rtd) John Masters was held at Papanui RSA on Saturday 10 April 2010. Read more

Mr Allan Masters and Prime Minister John Key with the Bronze Medallion embedded in the Anzac of the Year Award © FRANCIS OLIVER PHOTOGRAPHY LTD

Mrs Alisoun Masters with Prime Minister John Key and the Bronze Statuette, “Henderson and the Donkey” © FRANCIS OLIVER PHOTOGRAPHY LTD

Captain Matt Gauldie, New Zealand Armys’ Official Artist and creator of the Bronze Statuette “ Henderson and the Donkey”, with Prime Minister John Key. © FRANCIS OLIVER PHOTOGRAPHY LTD