Aptly the sea lapping the shore was the only sound as more than 200 people observed a minute’s silence during Sunday’s service at Kingscliff to mark 100 years of the Royal Australian Navy.
While most services held at cenotaphs around Australia are usually solemn occasions – Sunday’s was studded with cheers and light-hearted celebrations as members of the Navy, past, present and probably future, met to mark the impressive centenary.
The event kicked off at 10am with a march along Marine Parade down to the cenotaph in the middle of town to the beat of the the drum corp of the Training Ship Vampire, based at Tweed Heads South.
Parade Marshall, Hugh Aitken, who organised a lot of the event for the Kingscliff RSL Sub Branch, was obviously pleased with how the event went off.
“We had 60 in the guard and band and more than 100 take part in the march,” the former Naval warrant officer said.
He said participants came from as far away as Brisbane and Casino to take part in the service.
The ceremony included prayers of remembrance and hymns.
Former Royal Australian Navy Doctor and current reserve member, Scott Squires, who now lives in the Tweed, was guest speaker for the day, summarising the whole 100 years of the Navy in 20 minutes.
Celebrations then continued at the Cudgen Headland Surf Club with an after service lunch where plenty of stories were told about life in the Navy.
