Grant again helps Torquay RSL prepare for dawn service

THE Torquay RSL has welcomed another grant from the state government to help stage its Anzac Day dawn service as part of the Anzac Centenary.

Last week, Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney announced the club would receive $10,000 through the Victoria Remembers Minor Grants Program for the 2018 dawn service at Point Danger, which will be held next Wednesday.

“Our march and dawn service should be a wonderful event again this year,” Torquay RSL president Ian Gilbank said.

“Thousands of people, including families and young children turned out last year in the early hours to pay their respects to Australians who served in so many conflicts over the years, and their families who continue to support them.”

This year’s service in Torquay will commemorate the Nursing Corps as well as the centenary of the battle for Villers-Bretonneux, which took place on April 25, 1918.

Ms Tierney said the Victoria Remembers Minor Grants Program was heavily used by RSL clubs – Torquay RSL has now received $40,000 in four years – and its funding was being put to good effect.

“It’s a fund that all of the RSLs just know in terms of being able to make it just a little bit easier for them on the day, it makes a huge difference.

“So it does in terms of larger events and ceremonies like we have here, but with the smaller rural places, where the numbers are quite small in terms of being able to have capacity to fundraise, they’re very reliantw on this funding source.”

Surf Coast Shire mayor David Bell said the free shuttle bus service between Spring Creek Reserve and Point Danger (running between 5-8am) was a great initiative, and had made a difference to traffic and parking issues across Torquay on Anzac Day.

This year’s march will begin at 6am (marchers to be in position by 5.45am) from the corner of The Esplanade and Price Street, and marchers will arrive at Point Danger for a 6.15am start to the dawn service.

Following the dawn service, the community is invited to follow the marchers and join with the veterans at the John and Wilma Pettigrove Gunfire Breakfast at the marquee for breakfast, and at the Torquay Bowls Club for the reunion from 8am.

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Day services.