General News
15 April, 2021
Anzac Day services set to return
LOCALS will have the opportunity to pay their respects to those who served their country with Anzac Day services open to the public for the first time since 2019.
LOCALS will have the opportunity to pay their respects to those who served their country with Anzac Day services open to the public for the first time since 2019.
Anzac Day marks the anniversary of the first campaign which led to major casualties for Australian and New Zealand forces during World War One, and commemorates the conflicts and sacrifices which followed.
Mortlake Returned and Services League (RSL) president Merv Hampson said services in Mortlake had received the green light.
“We’re going to have our march and service as normal this year,” he said.
“We’ll march down Dunlop Street at 10am with a marching band to lead us to the monument.
“At the monument we will lay wreaths and hold a short service.”
Mr Hampson said the Mortlake march and service meets the criteria for a tier three public event, which is classed as a low-risk event with 1000 or fewer attendees.
Mr Hampson said it was “terrific” to be able to hold public commemorations again following the disruption to services last year.
“It worked alright having the Light Up the Dawn vigil last year, but not like having a proper service at the monument,” Mr Hampson said.
“I think it is probably our most important national day of the year.
“I am biased as an ex-serviceman, but I consider it our most important day which should be commemorated.
“We must not let it slip away from us.”
The Anzac Day service in Mortlake will be held Sunday, April 25 from 10am with the march along Dunlop Street followed by a ceremony at the monument located opposite the roundabout between Shaw Street and Jamieson Avenue.
Terang RSL president Terry Fidge said services in Terang had also received approval to go ahead.
A dawn service will be held at 6am at the Terang RSL hall on Shadforth Street. Another service will be held at 10am before moving to the avenue on High Street where the pipe band and horses will march down the avenue for a quick wreath laying ceremony at the Terang monument.
Mr Fidge said a formal service would not be held at the Terang monument.
“We’ll probably have a piper play the lament and the flag will be raised, but there won’t be a service or guest speaker at the monument,” he said.
“We’re requesting schools and organisations who would like to lay a wreath send only two representatives to the monument.
“There won’t be a march and the highway will still be open, so we will have to bevery cautious.
“But at the moment it looks like there will be no restrictions on numbers at the hall, so we would like as many people as possible to come along.”
Mr Fidge said Anzac Day was an Australian institution commemorating a common bond between the men and women who served together, their families and the community.
“That common bond is why Anzac Day is one of the traditional days on the Australian calendar,” he said.
The services will mark an extra special day for members of the Terang RSL, with the group planning on joining their centenary celebrations with Anzac Day on the Sunday.
“We will have a cake cutting ceremony and, if it is a nice day, a little bit of entertainment in the gardens and probably a barbecue.”
“It’ll be a bit of an open day for people to call in, see us and have a look at the improvements.”
Those in attendance will be required to sign in via a QR code or a sign-in sheet as a contract tracing measure, and those experiencing COVID-19 symptoms are urged to stay home.
Noorat Residents Association’s Eve Black said services would not be going ahead in Noorat this year, and encouraged locals to join memorial services at Terang or lay a wreath throughout the day at the Noorat War Memorial on MacKinnons Bridge Road.
