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The Time of Our Lives

2007 Television
  • Documentary
  • War
  • NZ History
  • Travel

This Qantas Award-winning documentary follows a 32-strong "mob of veterans" (the oldest is 95) on a trip to London to unveil the New Zealand Memorial. The memorial in Hyde Park honours New Zealand's service in war alongside Britain. The ceremony took place on 11 November 2006; the attendees included Prime Ministers Helen Clark and Tony Blair, the Queen and musician Dave Dobbyn. For many of the elderly vets, it's effectively their second OE; they recall war stories and lost mates, flirt with journalists and endure airport drudgery. Tales of love, friendship and trauma abound in Gaylene Preston's documentary.