Kiwi Son Tugs at Heartstrings

RAZ Wilson has been a crowd favourite on ANZAC Day with his soulful rendition of New Zealand’s national anthem, but this year was extra special as it was the first time his mum, Hine has heard him sing.

Hine Wilson was proud to hear her son Raz Wilson sing for the first time at the ANZAC Day ceremony.

Mrs Wilson was in Scone yesterday for the ANZAC Day commemoration and it is not only the first time she has heard her son sing in public, but the first time she has heard him sing at all.

“I cried, he has a very powerful voice,” said Mrs Wilson.

She said it was especially emotional for her as her husband, Raymond was a veteran who served in Malaya between 1961-1971 and has since passed away.

“He was called ‘shortie’ by his mates in the army and because he was short he was the scout in their unit,” said Mrs Wilson.

“In New Zealand they were known as the ‘forgotten battalion’, they just weren’t recognised when they returned home from their service,” she said.

“He didn’t get a medal for his service until 1998,” Hine Wilson said.

While Raz is Mrs Wilson’s son, Scone has certainly adopted Raz as one of their own from across the ditch, a bond that is especially poignant on ANZAC Day.