Victorian Governor lays first Anzac wreath in Torquay

Victorian Governor Linda Dessau and Anthony Howard QC walk with a wreath to Torquay’s Anzac memorial. Photos: JAMES TAYLOR

ANZAC Day is still weeks away but there is already a wreath at Point Danger, thanks to a special delivery from Victorian Governor Linda Dessau.

The Governor and her husband Anthony Howard QC laid a wreath at the Anzac memorial in Torquay on Wednesday last week to mark the start of their official two-day visit to the Surf Coast Shire.

The wreath-laying was in lieu of the usual April 25 march and dawn service, which despite the easing of COVID-19 restrictions will not be held this year because there is not enough time to organise the expensive event.

The group at the memorial – who observed a minute’s silence and the playing of “The Last Post” – included Torquay RSL president Bob Tyler, Torquay RSL secretary Daryll Topp, veterans Cec Browning, Katie Reaper and Nemani Valucava, and Surf Coast Shire mayor Libby Stapleton and acting chief executive officer Anne Howard.

Surf Coast Shire acting chief executive officer Anne Howard, mayor Libby Stapleton, Torquay RSL secretary Daryl Topp, veteran Cec Browning, Anthony Howard QC, Torquay RSL president Bob Tyler, Victorian Governor Linda Dessau, and veterans Nemani Valucava and Katie Reaper.

Her Excellency chatted with the RSL members after the service and complimented them on their upkeep of the memorial.

“It’s a really beautiful location,” she said.

While in Torquay, Her Excellency and Mr Howard took part in a roundtable discussion with representatives of business, science, art, farming, emergency services, media and education in the council chambers.

They also toured the Torquay surf retail precinct and the Australian National Surfing Museum, and visited Ashmore Arts, the Anglesea SLSC clubrooms, Murnong Farm in Inverleigh and Alcoa’s former coal mine in Anglesea.