Thousands are expected on Anzac Day, says RSL president

RSL president Frank Nuccio expects the fact that Anzac Day falls on a Saturday this year to have no great effect on attendances at Ballarat’s dawn and 11am services, as well as the march.

Nuccio said that combined, last year’s events attracted about 10,000 people, and he does not expect many to skip the event this year just because it will be a weekend.

“The dawn service is getting bigger and bigger each year, so I expect it to be quite large again,” he said.

The Dawn Service in Ballarat will take place at the cenotaph in Sturt Street at 6am and will be followed by a gunfire breakfast at the Heinz Lane headquarters, with a transfer bus provided.

The Anzac Day march is scheduled for 10.30am and will take a route from Lyons Street North to the cenotaph, where a commemorative service will be held at 11am.

Guest speaker at the dawn and 11am services will be noted military figure Catherine McGregor.

McGregor is a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) and has also been a high-profile writer and cricket commentator.

She has been awarded the Australian Service Medal, the Defence Long Service Medal and the Australian Defence Medal, and has served in the Australian Army and the Royal Australian Air Force Reserve.

Nuccio encouraged everyone to attend and pay their respects to serving and former defence force personnel.

The sub-branch’s final official event – refreshments and two-up – is scheduled for 1pm at the Midlands Golf Club in Heinz Lane.

Other events around the city and surrounds include a Cardigan and Windermere Fire Brigade service at the fireman’s memorial in Remembrance Drive at 7am, followed by a wreath-laying; an 8am service at the Arch of Victory/Garden of the Grieving Mother; a 9am wreath-laying at the Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial; a 10am service at the Miners Rest Cenotaph; a service at Buninyong’s Memorial Park at 10.15am; and a service at the Sebastopol Cenotaph at 8.30am.

Since Friday last week, Ballarat Cemeteries has been placing more than 3,000 Australian flags at the graves of service personnel at both its cemeteries.

The tribute is now being adopted by other cemeteries around the state.

On Anzac Day, the gates of the old and new cemeteries will be open after the Ballarat dawn service for families to visit and others are also welcome to view the flags.

Year 5 and 6 students from Siena Catholic Primary School in Lucas visited the new cemetery to help place some flags on Wednesday as part of learning about Anzac Day.

A small display in the reception area of the new cemetery will remain in place until the end of the month, along with information about war graves and tours.

Copies of a book by Arch of Victory and Avenue of Honour president Garry Snowden, They Answered Their Country’s Call, are available for sale along with commemorative poppy tiles, which can be bought by families who may want to attach one to a headstone or cremation niche

In other local events, St Patrick’s Cathedral will commemorate the day with a mass at 9.15am with the theme of world peace.

Prayers of petition will also be offered for those who gave their lives as well as past and present serving personnel.

The Ode, the Last Post, a minute’s silence and Reveille will be included as part of the liturgy.

All veterans, their families and others will be welcome to attend.