Our ANZAC Day service this year was a success. We’re very proud of the efforts that culminated in such a great ceremony.
Anzac Day March
The march began in the morning, with Jesse Pegg, war widow, leading. Jesse and her late husband Jack have had a long association with our RSL over the years, and we are so glad to see Jess involved in the Service.
Sunshine Coast Caledonian Pipes and Drums brought us along on the march with great vigour, and looked terrific in full uniform.
It was moving to see so many join the march, from veterans and their relatives, to those honouring their loved ones and proudly bearing their family medals.
Anzac Day Service
As everyone came toward the park finishing the march, and took their seats, the Yandina Scouts handed out sprigs of fresh rosemary and program booklets. Previous attendees will note that the crowd has grown since last year, and the park and seating was at full capacity, which is something we love to see.
Our local cadets, 128 ACU formed the Catafalque and Flag Party, and showed great discipline, lending that to our service again this year.
Following the requiem, recited by our President David Buckley, our Reverend Peter Hall read the names of the fallen and offered his prayers.
Children from Community Link laid rosemary at the base of the Cenotaph, and Tracey Gilmartin, Secretary, gave the ANZAC Day Address.
The crowd was given an informative speech on the origins of Australian RSL’s rosemary by Danielle Gilmartin, and children from North Arm State School, Yandina State School and Yandina Scout Group offered tributes in poetry. The childrens’ delivery of the speeches was heartfelt and exceptional, we are deeply grateful that they have contributed in this way to the service.
Local legends stunning in red, the Doo Wop Dolls led the crowd in the hymn, Abide By Me.
Wreath Laying
We’d like to thank the individuals and associations who kindly laid wreaths at our Cenotaph, including Legacy, TPI, National Servicemen, Nuclear Veterans Association, Rats of Tobruk, War Widows, 128 ACU, Councilor Rogerson, Yandina State School, North Arm State School, Yandina Scout Group, Yandina Baptist Church, SES Nambour, CWA, YADCA, and the Yandina Chamber of Commerce.
The Caledonian Pipes and Drums also gave us the Lament during the wreath laying, for which we are grateful. David Buckley spoke The Ode as everyone stood for the Valedictory.
Bugler Victor Flatt, for whom it was the fourth service he offered his bugle to on the day, played The Last Post, ushering our minute’s silence.
The Flag Party raised the flags to full mast, and Doo Wop Dolls led the crowd in the Australian and New Zealand National Anthems.
The Service ends
The Catafalque Party then dismounted, and the conclusion to the service was given, and all attendees were invited to the RSL Hall for lunch. As we were unable to host Two-Up, the Yandina Hotel kindly hosted our attendees who wished to partake.
During the conclusion the president reflected on last year’s service, where our dear friend, the late Dusty Miller, gave a wonderful speech, drawing from his own wealth of experience and knowledge. Dusty has since received due recognition to his service adding the Foreign Legion Medal to his awards, which sadly had to be received posthumously by his family.
With much Appreciation
Thank you to all who supported us make the Service a success and to everyone who attended to share in this special day.
We appreciate the recognition of Coolum News for covering Dusty’s story and our ceremony and march this year, as well as Jesse’s participation in the event. It’s lovely to see their story shared Read more here.
Finally, we’d like to thank our Citizen’s Auxiliary for such a delicious lunch, and for all their contributions in the lead up to the service, and the Men’s Shed, who helped with setup of the seating and gazebos, so that our attendees could be as comfortable as possible.
Previous attendees may have noticed an improvement in our sound this year, and we owe this to the Doo Wop Dolls with their help in setting up their audio equipment, and to DW Sound in Nambour, who helped to provide the most appropriate equipment so everyone could enjoy the service.
We are grateful to Sunshine Coast Council for responding fast to our need to clean up the park after Cyclone Debbie, in readiness for the ceremony, the commitment and the support has been outstanding.
We’d also like to recognise those who worked behind the scenes to make this ceremony possible, such as the Nambour SES, Queensland Police, Sunshine Coast Council, and TransLink, and as our attendees can attest, we did not have any buses driving through the crowd on the day, which was a great relief.
The Ode – Anzac Day
Please note that this was made with the 2016 Anzac images as part of our invitation to the service.
