Geelong Remembrance Day service to go ahead

VICTORIA reaching its 80 per cent double-vaccinated milestone means that public observances of Remembrance Day in Geelong can go ahead on Thursday.

The Geelong RSL would normally hold its service at the Peace Memorial at Johnstone Park, but will this year hold its commemorations outside its sub-branch at 50 Barwon Heads Road, Belmont, from 10.45am.

Geelong RSL president Andrew Hanns said numbers for a service at the sub-branch would have lesser restrictions.

“We can’t do it at the Peace Memorial because of the confined space, the density of it, which is sad, really, because we’ve actually put up a new honour board inside the memorial.”

He said the honour board, which was supported by a $80,000 grant from Corio federal member Richard Marles, recognised the other 52 countries that had served in conflict alongside Australia.

“Unfortunately, we’ve had no time since then, since COVID, to get back in there and thank the relevant organisations and the federal government for what they’ve done.

“Having said that, we’re going to have a service at the sub-branch, and we encourage all ex-service organisations, as well as members of the public, to get involved.”

This year commemorates 100 years of the Royal Australian Air Force, and Mr Hanns said it was the Geelong RSL’s intention to find an RAAF member to give a speech at this week’s service.

“We’re on the hunt at the moment – obviously time’s getting away from us, but we’ll find someone.”

He said Remembrance Day generally drew a smaller crowd than Anzac Day.

“Whether it’s the day, if it’s on a business day; for a lot of veterans, their families are working so it’s hard for them, so I daresay the numbers will be down.

“In saying that, we’re going to get a lot of the veteran community coming from Malay, Borneo, Korea, Vietnam veterans, National Service … because we’re out of restrictions, I can anticipate we’ll get a few.”

Mr Hanns said attendance at the refreshments afterwards inside would be limited because of COVID-19 restrictions.

“It’ll be great to get together, have a guest speaker, lay a floral tribute and say g’day to those we haven’t seen for a long time.”

For more information, phone the Geelong RSL on 5241 1766.