Legacies not forgotten

THE Ballarat RSL are making final preparations for upcoming Anzac Day services.

This year there will be a Dawn Service at the Ballarat Cenotaph followed by a gunfire breakfast at the RSL.

“The gunfire breakfast dates back to the First World War when the artillery fired day and night so they never had time to have a meal,” said Ballarat RSL president Alan Douglass.

Later in the day there’ll be a march down Sturt Street, and a service at the Cenotaph afterwards.

Any veteran who wants to be in the march but cannot walk, can book a wheelchair with the RSL office.

“It’s a day where veterans get together and meet their friends,” said Mr Douglass.

“It’s important we have an Anzac Day march to keep the legacy up and teach the younger generation what really did happen and the sacrifice our troops, nurses and animals went through.

“It’s a time to remember.”

The Ballarat RSL was opened in 1920s to provide soldiers with adequate support when they returned home from war.

“It is a returned servicemen league where anyone who has served, or their family, can join up,” said Mr Douglass

“Just after the First World War they had a meeting in a hotel with some returned servicemen and they formed a committee.

“A doctor in Lyons Street had a business there and when he died, he gifted it to the Ballarat RSL and we’ve been established ever since

“It’s very important because after the First World War soldiers came back and they had no support whatsoever and what they went through was very difficult.

“They were told to just carry on in life or just go to the pub and have a few beers.

“They suffered very badly.

“Since then we’ve had veteran affairs come in and we have advocates for any veteran who needs support.”

Mr Douglass said the sacrifices made by our servicemen and women will never be forgotten.

“Anzac Day will never disappear; we have an education officer who goes around to schools and talks about it.

“The younger generation are the ones who will carry on with Anzac Day.”