Anzac Day commemorations on the Bellarine

ANZAC Day ceremonies will take place across the Bellarine on Friday, April 25 as communities pause to commemorate the day.

The Portarlington and St Leonards RSL Sub-Branch will host three services to remember the sacrifices made during war.

At 6.30am the dawn service will be held at the Portarlington Cenotaph and led by Portarlington and St Leonards RSL Sub-Branch president Travis Smith.

In St Leonards, there will be a 9am service, held at St Leonards Memorial Hall at 9am.

Portarlington will also host a march at 10.45 am, the march will make its way from the RSL club rooms arriving at the Portarlington Cenotaph for a commemorative and wreath laying service, which will be accompanied by an aircraft flypast.

Portarlington and St Leonards RSL Sub-Branch secretary Phil Walters said Anzac Day ceremonies were important in ensuring people don’t forget those who “gave their life for our way of life.”

“We want the community and schools to make sure that stays alive, which it is, we get a lot of help and support from the schools and the community,” he said.

“It’s not about the war itself; it’s about the comradeship and the spirit of the community that we celebrate.”

Multiple services will take place around the Bellarine, including in Drysdale where the community is invited to attend the march, stepping off at 10.50am with the service beginning at 11am, at the Drysdale Cenotaph.

The Ocean Grove Barwon Heads RSL Sub-Branch will host a dawn service at the Cenotaph from 6am, followed by a veteran’s march at 9.15am and a commemoration service at Ocean Grove Park at 10am.

The Sub-branch will also host a March in Barwon Heads, leaving from the Bridge Road and Hitchcock Avenue Roundabout at 8.45am and arriving at the Barwon Heads Memorial Hall for a 9am service.

Mr Walters encouraged community members to buy an Anzac badge when they can, with all profits going towards supporting veterans and their families.