Bugle salutes at Anzac Day service

HUNDREDS marched down Inverleigh’s High Street to take part in the town’s annual Anzac Day service on Tuesday morning.

Held at the Inverleigh War Memorial, the town’s 108th Anzac Day service saw a Tiger Moth plane called Millie flying overhead and a catafalque party by members of 8/7th Royal Victorian Regiment.

Inverleigh RSL president Deema Johnston said the event was growing in participation.

“We’re trying to increase this greatly because Anzac Day’s such an important day,” he said. “Bannockburn, we had more than 500 people and Teesdale was a very large service as well.

“This is our service with the most moving parts today. At the RSL we’ve actually got a long-range patrol vehicle on display from the north of Australia that I used to use while serving in NORFORCE.

“It’s a very humbling job because you’re representing so many.”

Members of the Inverleigh RSL also supported the Bannockburn, Shelford, and Teesdale memorial services.

They also took part in what’s become a traditional football and netball meeting between Inverleigh and Bannockburn later that afternoon.

A wreath-laying ceremony took place with members of the Inverleigh Hawks Football Netball Club and Golden Plains Shire councillor Clayton Whitfield participating.

A minute’s silence was held with the playing of The Last Post as well as the Australian and New Zealand national anthems.

Lance Corporal Jake Reid led the catafalque party in his first year as guard commander and said it was an honour to take part.

“It’s always a privilege to do it,” he said. “It’s something all the boys in our unit put their hand up for.

“I’m pretty sure this is my first service in Inverleigh and it’s a very good turnout for what I thought was a small town.”

The service was the eighth in Inverleigh for local Katrina Robson, who said it keeps getting bigger every year.

“The amount of people coming is getting better every year,” she said. “I think every family’s got a member that was in the forces.

“I’ve got a grandson who’s just joined. It’s right across the board.”