Anzac Day services to be held across the Byron Shire

ANZAC Day events will be held across the Byron Shire next Friday April 25, with services planned at Byron Bay, Bangalow, Brunswick Heads, Mullumbimby and Clunes.

Byron Bay RSL Sub-Branch will hold a dawn service at the Memorial Gates at Byron Bay Recreation Grounds from 5.30am to 6am.

It will be followed by breakfast at Byron Bay Services Club before the march from Apex Park back to the Memorial Gates at 10.30am. The service there will begin at 10.50am.

In Bangalow, the march will begin at Bangalow Hotel at 10.30am and proceed down the main street to the Bangalow RSL Hall, where a ceremony will be held.

In Clunes, a commemorative service will begin at 9am in the main street.

Mullumbimby RSL Sub-Branch’s dawn service will begin at 4.30am at the cenotaph opposite Mullumbimby Ex-Services Club.

There will then be a breakfast at the club which is free for veterans and $10 for non-veterans.

The march will commence at Apex Park at 10.40am and finish at the Cenotaph, where the main service will be held at 11am. Attendees are then invited to lunch and refreshments at the club.

An Anzac Day dawn service will also be held at the Cenotaph in Memorial Park at Brunswick Heads at 5am, with participants encouraged to assemble at 4.45am.

Byron Bay RSL Sub-Branch vice-president Jim Rogers said there was strong interest in services.

“There’s a declining number of veterans but the last few years there’s been increasing crowds, and a lot of people are now coming and bringing little children,” he said.

“People can now join the march and wear their ancestor’s or relative’s medals. Veterans wear their medals on the left side of the chest and relatives wear them on the right.”

Mullumbimby RSL Sub-Branch president Stephen Williams said Anzac Day is a day that we all should take a moment to acknowledge and reflect on those who have given their lives in the service of our country.

“Their sacrifices have paved the way for the freedoms that we enjoy every day,” he said.

“Attending Anzac Day is not about glorifying war but honouring those who have served and the many that continue to serve to protect our way of life.”