Commander Keith Wisnesky, Mort Anderson, Judy Hallinan, Peter Bolous, Sheryl Farrow, Margaret Newell, Veronika Hernandez, Johnathon Newell, William Newell, Heather Waldrom, Lynsay Roberts, Gloria Wisnesky, Gordon Benfell, Eddy Pinkerton and Margaret Morunga. Photo / Ayla Yeoman

A Tauranga man who gave two decades of his life to the Royal New Zealand Navy in the 1960s and 1970s has been honoured this week for his contribution with something quite novel.

William John Newell – or “Scouse” to his mates – was presented with an “Anzac quilt” by Tauranga woman Cheryl Farrow at his Pāpāmoa home on May 19, surrounded by friends, family, RSA members and fellow veterans.

Newell’s Navy story began when he signed on at age 17 to serve his country and expected to return home after a couple of days.

Instead, he ended up serving 20 years around Southeast Asia on 12 of Her Majesty’s New Zealand Ship (HMNZS) ships and at the Irirangi, the Navy base radio station near Waiōuru. “I enjoyed most moments, and I made some great mates,” Newell said. “I was what they call a ship’s technician. I looked after all the electronics.”

William Newell with his Anzac quilt. Photo / Ayla Yeoman

Newell was the only technician on the ship, so he had a rifle but was not required to be on the upper deck, he said. “Our main job was to stop the trade between Indonesia and Malaysia. We did patrols up the Malacca Strait.”

Newell worked as a patrol sailor and a ship technician during the nine months he served on the Malacca Strait. The rest of his time was spent at the Irirangi as a radio mechanic at the radio station that managed overseas communications, he said.

After being discharged from service on July 26, 1980, he worked as a technician for Fonterra before retiring with wife Margaret in Tauranga more than 20 years ago.

Sheryl Farrow, Margaret Morunga, and William Newell. Photo / Ayla Yeoman

He has previously been awarded with the New Zealand Operational Medal, the General Service Medal Borneo with Malay Peninsula Bar, the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, the Defence Service Medal and the Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medal for his contribution.

The 82-year-old said he was honoured to receive the quilt designed with New Zealand patterns and a Navy symbol from Farrow, who had discovered a similar tradition overseas and adapted it for Kiwi servicemen here in the Bay of Plenty.

So far, she has gifted 200 quilts to deserving servicemen.