Community engaged in Anzac Day events

A GROWING sense of community involvement will highlight Anzac Day events across the Ballina Shire on Friday.

Hundreds of people are expected to attend the main street march and services surrounding the Ballina RSL Club.

Ballina RSL sub-Branch vice-president Dick Wills said it would be a big day, with participation continuing to increase in recent years.”I thought it was starting to diminish for a while there, but the younger generation have come on board, and we still get plenty of veterans in the march, too” Mr Wills said.

“The schools and businesses around town have shown a lot of interest in the lead-up this year.

“We still have vehicle support for the ones who need it, and we encourage the veterans and their families to attend the breakfast at the RSL Club.

“The ex-services clubs will be selling badges at Bunnings at Ballina Fair Shopping Centre this week to raise money for our veterans.”

The Anzac Day service will begin with a dawn service at the RSL memorial park at 5.30am.

Breakfast is at 6am with people encouraged to purchase tickets through the club ahead of time.

The Ballina Pipe Band will lead the march along River Street at 10.30am with the commemorative service and wreath laying ceremony scheduled at the memorial cenotaph at 10.55am.

Lunch will be served at noon with two-up from 1pm.

“It’s great recognition for our veterans and it’s a day that is unique to Australia and New Zealand,” Mr Wills said.

“It is important to commemorate all service personnel who play a part in peace-keeping operations.”

Poppies can be purchased this week for $5 from the RSL Club with proceeds going directly to the War Widows Program.

The project began last year and was organised by the Rotary Satellite Club of Ballina Lifestyle.

This year, the rotary club has extended the project along the main street and have included Ballina Fair Shopping Centre.

A metre-high structure of Anzac letters has been placed in the foyer of the RSL Club, with poppies available to pin on the letters with a message of remembrance.

Elsewhere, The Alstonville RSL sub-branch will hold its dawn service and community march.

The dawn service will be held at the Alstonville War Memorial on Daley Street at 5.30am.

The march will go through main street at 9.40am with a service to follow.

At Lennox Head, there will be a gathering for a dawn service in Ross Park at 5.30am.

There will be an Ode at 5.50am with the Last Post to follow.

The group plans to have breakfast together when the event concludes at 6am.