Pause to reflect this Anzac Day across the Bellarine

NEXT Thursday (April 25) many will pause to remember the sacrifices that were made during war.

Ocean Grove Barwon Heads RSL president Phil Edwards said Anzac Day is a combination of things.

“Anzac Day overall is a day of commemoration and it’s a day of remembering sacrifice, the service of our nation, right back from the time of the Gallipoli landings, all the way through to soldiers, sailors, air men and air women of today,” he said.

The Ocean Grove Barwon Heads RSL will host three services on Anzac Day.

At 6am the dawn service will take place at the Ocean Grove Park cenotaph with a piper playing a Call to Arms at 6.15am.

The march and service in Ocean Grove will assemble at 9.30am in front of the Commonwealth Bank with the march to commence at 9.45am.

Accompanied by the Geelong RSL Pipes and Drums, the march will arrive at the Ocean Grove Cenotaph for a 10am service led by Mr Edwards.

The service will include a Catafalque and Flag Party from the 8th/7th Battalion Alpha Company, the Geelong Concert Band and the Coryule Choir.

In Barwon Heads, the march will assemble at 8.30am on the corner of Hitchcock Avenue and Bridge Street and arrive at the Cenotaph at the Barwon Heads Community Hall for the service at 9.00am.

“I think it’s important to remember the sacrifice that people made so that we have a good life, we live a good life. We are the lucky country because of in part, the sacrifices they’ve made,” Mr Edwards said.

There will be multiple services taking place across the Bellarine.

The Portarlington and St Leonards RSL will hold a dawn service commencing at 6.30am at the Portarlington cenotaph followed by a march at 11am leaving from the RSL club rooms.

In Drysdale, the RSL will hold a service and march with participants meeting at 10.15am in Princess Street for a 10:30am commencement, finishing at the Drysdale cenotaph.

A service will also be held at the St Leonards Memorial Hall at 9am.

The Leopold War Memorial Committee and Leopold Lions Club will hold a service at the Leopold War Memorial on the corner of Stringer Lane and Melaluka Road at 8am.

The Ocean Grove Barwon Heads RSL will be selling Anzac badges around the Bellarine until April 24.

All funds raised from badge sales are used to support veterans and their families, for more information, head to oceangroversl.com.au