By TANIA PHILLIPS
ANZAC Day remembrance ceremonies will be held throughout the Southern Downs on Monday.
IT will be a special time for new Southern Downs Regional Council Mayor Tracy Dobie – participating in these special commemorative services as mayor for the first time.
Anzac Day already has special significance for Cr Dobie, who served in the Australian Army for 22 years, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
“Anzac Day is a significant time to reflect on the anniversary of the 1915 Gallipoli landing and those brave souls who died in the service of their country,” Mayor Dobie said.
“But it is an equally important time to remember the sacrifices made by current and ex-servicemen and women who died in war and on operational service in the hundred years since.
“There has been a growing interest and increased participation by the community in Anzac Day services across the Southern Downs and the nation, and with the significant milestone last year marking the Anzac Centenary, we’re certainly expecting a greater turnout at services next week.”
Mayor Dobie highlighted that numerous services have been organised throughout the region by the Returned Services League, the Veteran Services and Advocacy Services Australia and Southern Downs Regional Council, to enable all community members the flexibility to select a service that best suits their timetable.
“As most residents would know, the Warwick services include a Dawn Service, ceremonies at the War Graves Cemetery and Eden Gardens Memorial Park, a march and an 11am service at the cenotaph in Leslie Park,” she said.
“A similar program of Anzac Day services has been arranged for the Stanthorpe community, but it should be noted that this year the venue for the 11am commemorative service will be held at the Stanthorpe RSL Club and not the Stanthorpe Civic Centre or the Weeroona Park Band Shell.
“Services will also be held in many of the smaller communities within the Southern Downs region including Allora, Killarney, Tannymorel, Yangan, Emu Vale, Leyburn, Pratten and Wallangarra.
“These are solemn occasions and I am pleased to honour the strong feeling of mateship of our Diggers.
“These ceremonies also serve an important role to encourage children to understand and appreciate the Anzac legend and spirit,” Mayor Dobie said.
Mayor Dobie will attend the Stanthorpe Anzac Day Dawn Service, the War Graves ceremony and the Warwick Anzac Day march and commemorative service.
The Deputy Mayor and all Councillors will attend and lay wreaths at various services across the region and look forward to standing with the community to remember the fallen.
Anzac Day services across the region are as follows:
WARWICK
5.15am for 5.30am start – Dawn Service, Leslie Park cenotaph, Warwick.
8.45am – Ceremony at War Graves Cemetery.
9.30am – Ceremony at Eden Gardens Memorial Park, Little Warner Street, Warwick.
10.45am – March commences from the Warwick RSL.
11am – Service at Leslie Park cenotaph, Warwick.
STANTHORPE
5.30am – Dawn Service, Weeroona Park, Stanthorpe, followed by a Gunfire Breakfast, Stanthorpe RSL Club.
7.30am – Service at Wall of Remembrance, Stanthorpe RSL Club.
10.30am – Parade, from corner Maryland/Folkestone streets to Marsh Street, Stanthorpe.
11am – Commemorative Service, Stanthorpe RSL Club, Marsh Street, Stanthorpe. Please note: this service has changed venue and will not be held at the Stanthorpe Civic Centre or the Weeroona Park Band Shell.
11.30am – Wreath Laying Service, Weeroona Park War Memorial, Marsh Street, Stanthorpe.
ALLORA
5.30am – Dawn Service, Allora War Memorial Gardens, Warwick Street, Allora.
6am – Gunfire Breakfast at the Allora RSL
9.30am – Service at the Allora Cemetery, Allora-Clifton Road, Allora.
10.45am – Parade from Herbert Street to the Allora RSL.
11am – Commemorative Service at the Allora War Memorial Gardens, Warwick Street, Allora.
KILLARNEY AND TANNEYMOREL
5.30am – Dawn Service at the Killarney cenotaph.
8am – Service at the Tanneymorel cenotaph.
9.30am – Service at the Killarney cenotaph Leyburn and Pratten.
5.30am – Dawn Service at Pratten Heritage Park followed by Gunfire breakfast.
5.45am – Dawn Service at Leyburn RSL.
9.15am – March commences from McIntyre Street to Liberator Park, Leyburn.
9.30am – Service at Liberator Park, Leyburn.
WALLANGARRA
5.30am – Dawn Service in front of Wallangarra RSL Hall, Barawell Street, Wallangarra.
11.30am – Parade, starting from the Wallangarra RSL Hall, Barawell Street to the Wallangarra Jennings Progress Association (WJPA) Hall, Merinda Street, Wallangarra.
Noon – Commemorative Service at the WJPA Hall, Merinda Street, Wallangarra.
