Kingscliff RSL will hold not one but two dawn services this ANZAC Day as part of a new tradition for the club.
Club vice president Brian Vickery said the club would still hold its traditional dawn service among the memorial pine trees at Cudgen – start with the march at 4.10am, with the service at 4.28am.
However, he said this year the club had added a second dawn service at Kingscliff, starting at 5.45am with a short march. The longer march and main service will start from 10am (to congregate for the march) and 11am for the service.
Mr Vickery said it was decided to have a later dawn service for the older members of the club.
“Our Second World War veterans are now over 80 and it would be a bit easier for them to have a 6am service,” he said.
“It will be the first dawn service at Kingscliff.
“The dawn service at Cudgen has been happening for a long time – we are not quite sure when it started but we think it was probably about 1928.”
The Cudgen service is always a poignant one – stopping at each of the large pine trees, planted to represent a fallen soldier. With some of the trees starting to die, it has become even more poignant.
Pottsville’s finest – past and present – will be honoured at their recently-expanded ANZAC Park, which features the Cenotaph plus an impressive new ‘Nominal Roll’.
The Nominal Roll is a ‘living’ monument carrying a listing of both past and currently serving ADF personnel.
It was partly funded by a Federal Government ‘Saluting the Service’ Memorial Grant, and was unveiled by State President of the RSL, Don Rowe, OAM and Mr Phil Bonnor, original secretary of Pottsville Sub-branch.
Etched in stone are the survivors of conflicts past and present, for the first time publicly acknowledging their service to their country in the face of grave personal danger.
These exceptional men and women have done themselves and their country proud, fighting under the Australian flag in theatres of war, far from their Pottsville home, in Europe, Africa and the Pacific.
Together they’ve extended the ANZAC tradition for bravery and winning against all odds, adding to the proud Aussie legend that defines our nation.
Several hundred of these surviving heros will take over the streets of Pottsville this ANZAC Day, old diggers marching shoulder-to-shoulder behind the colour party with their young mates from the 41st Battalion, Murwillumbah Unit as current ADF and ex-service personnel gather with family and friends to thank and honour the fallen.
A lone piper will head up the March, which includes a Cataflaque Party from the 41st which will take position, heads bowed and weapons lowered in respect as a young female bugler from Murwillumbah High School sounds The Last Post. Guest speaker will be serving officer, Lt Ashley Baldery.
The 2011 Pottsville ANZAC Day March
Marshalling: 7.30am at Pharmacy opposite Anglican Church, Coronation Street
Departing: 7.45am
Service: 8.00am
Meanwhile Tweed member, Vietnam Veteran Bob Meehan said the services in Tweed Heads-Coolangatta would centre around Chris Cunningham Park with services at both 5.30am and 10 am.
Mr Meehan is also volunteer curator of the Gold Coast War Museum near Springbrook.
