About Christchurch Memorial RSA

Christchurch Memorial RSA is a group of four legal entities all governed and managed by the Association. These entities are:

• Christchurcrh Memorial Returned and Services Association Incorporated;
• Christchurch RSA Trust Board;
• Christchurch RSA Museum and Support Trust;
• Christchurch RSA Holdings Ltd (In liquidation)

The governing body of the group of entities is the Christchurch Memorial RSA Executive Committee. The members of the Executive Committee are:

• President:                  Dennis Mardle
• Vice President:           Craig Ruane
• Hon. Treasurer:          Dennis Mardle
• Exec Member:            Cameron Mouat             
• Exec Member:            Tony Westwood

Executive Member Bio’s:

Dennis Mardle

I joined the NZ Army as a Regular Force Cadet in 1970 and graduated to the infantry at 1Bn Depot Burnham in December 1971. On completion of my corps training, I was posted to National Service Training Unit Waiouru instructing on the last of the National Service intakes.

Between 1973 and 1975 I served with 1 BN Depot, which became 2/1 RNZIR, as an instructor on several corps’ trainings. The lengthy period was due to my getting married, which interrupted the posting cycle. In 1975 I was posted to 1 RNZIR in Singapore, leaving there in 1977 and coming back to NZ to be discharged from the Army.

In 1978 I joined the NZ Police and served for 8 years in Western Auckland as a frontline police officer.

On leaving the Police I spent some 12 years working with disadvantaged young people through the Anne Audain Charitable Trust based on Waiheke Island. As a result of being exposed to the system of government funding and the inequities, I chose to study law to provide me with a better understanding of how the government and the law operated, eventually leaving Canterbury University with a Master’s degree in Law.

I have had an intermittent involvement with the RSA movement over the years including some time spent on the Presidents Forum of the RNZRSA as the Affiliates Representative. I have been a member of Christchurch Memorial RSA since 2015

CRAIG RUANE

Craig Ruane joined the Royal New Zealand Artillery in 1976 as a Member of 32(E) Battery.  He was promoted to Sergeant before being commissioned in 1983.  He served as a Forward Observer, Battery Captain, and Battery Commander of Headquarters Battery, 3 Field Regiment and 32(E) Battery.  In 1996 he served as a Military Observer with UNTSO in Israel and Syria and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on his return.  He held various appointments including Instructor at Tactical School in Waiouru and on the directing staff of the Canadian Joint Reserve Command and Staff College in Toronto.

In 2000 he served in East Timor as a Prosecutor with the UNTAET  Serious Crimes Unit.  He is currently a Colonel in the Stand-by Reserve and holds a senior appointment with the Directorate of Legal Services.  He is a Barrister practicing in Christchurch and has previously been a Partner in a Christchurch legal firm and a Senior Prosecutor with the Crown Solicitor’s Office.  He specialises in criminal and civil litigation.  He is the Immediate  Past President of the Canterbury Branch of the NZ Law Society.