Geelong community commemorate ANZAC Day

GEELONG residents turned out in force on Tuesday this week to honour Australians and New Zealanders who sacrificed themselves in war and peacekeeping operations at a special Anzac Day march and public commemorative ceremony at Johnstone Park.

The Geelong RSL event started with a march from the corner of Yarra Street and Malop Street to Johnstone Park and was followed by a commemoration service.

It was estimated thousands of people attended the service, including returned servicemen and servicewomen, veterans and local, state and federal politicians including Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles.

Geelong RSL president Andrew Hanns said it was fantastic to see so many people paying their respects on the day.

“It was just an all-round fantastic and sunny day to all get together and catch up to pay our respects.

“It was good to be back to that pre covid sort of normality and see everyone and essentially do a bit of a welfare check on them which is what Anzac Day is also about.

“We were thrilled to welcome down the Minister for Defence and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, among others at a range of ceremonies across the Greater Geelong area.

“It’s not often you have someone of his stature attend the 4am, 6am, 9am and 11am services like he did.

“He really stepped out of his way to make a big effort in his hometown and we were honoured to have him there.”

Locals paid their respects at a pre-dawn service at the Geelong Peace Memorial and two other commemorations at Eastern Beach Reserve and at the Geelong RSL base in Belmont.

The Norlane RSL Subbranch and Kardinia Rotary Club also hosted services of their own on Tuesday.