Annual service to remember the fallen

FOR many, next Saturday will be about honouring those who died serving their country during World War One.

Members of the Inverleigh RSL Sub-Branch, together with the community, will be one of the groups taking part in the commemorations as part of their annual Remembrance Day service.

Deema Johnston, the group’s president said the event is about paying homage to those who didn’t return home from conflict, as well as those who felt the impacts when they did.

“We’re there to remember those men that originally fought in the first World War,” he said. “After that, it’s for every war operation or conflict we’ve been in from World War One onwards.

“It’s to remember the men that never returned, whose names are on Inverleigh’s memorial.

“If you look back at the Royal Commission right now, we lost over 6000 people at Gallipoli and over 6000 men committed suicide in their first year coming home. They were that deeply impacted.”

Following a march from the Inverleigh RSL at 10.30am, the ceremony will take place at the Inverleigh War Memorial with a Tiger Moth plane will fly over the proceedings, will include a wreath laying and potential guest speakers.

Following the service, everyone will be invited back to the Inverleigh RSL’s home base for a community event.

An open car show and shine organised by Bullet Meets and Cruises will take place with everyone invited to display their vehicle of choice.

A people’s choice awards will run at 2.30pm, with attendees able to vote on the event’s best custom car, street machine, bike, truck.

Members of the Inverleigh CFA, and SES will be in attendance, with a potential display from the latter, while children’s face painting and a jumping castle will also feature.

RSL member Mark Reid will display a collection of miliary uniforms from WWI onwards.

Mr Johnston said he wants to showcase what the Inverleigh RSL is all about.

“The intention is bring a light onto the RSL because we don’t open often and not many people come through,” he said.

“Having Remembrance Day on a Saturday, we’ve got more people that will attend. We want to show what we’ve got in the RSL and let people have a look around the place.

“It’s also to enjoy the day with cars, good spirit, and camaraderie.”