What’s on: Maranoa Anzac Day 2023

RSL Queensland State President Major General Stephen Day DSC AM- PICS: CONTRIBUTED

Anzac Day is the time us Australians come together in commemorating soldiers who fought for our peace and freedom that we are blessed with today.

Celebrating the anniversary day when Australian and New Zealand soldiers landed in Gallipoli on 25 March, 1915.

Many services will be held in the Maranoa region, including Surat, Yuleba, Roma, Wallumbilla, and Jackson next Tuesday.

RSL Queensland members share their thoughts on what ANZAC Day means to them.

“ANZAC Day is a significant and uniquely personal time for all Australians – for me, it’s an opportunity to stand side by side with my fellow veterans, family and friends, to remember those who served and sacrificed for our nation,” Decorated Australian Army Veteran, Cherisa Pearce said.

“ANZAC Day is a day where we remember and commemorate all of those who have sacrificed so much to secure the freedoms and way of life that we, as Australians, are so privileged to have,” RSL Queensland State President Major General Stephen Day DSC AM said.

“As an Army veteran myself, I feel a deep connection with this day as it is a time to reflect on veterans, past and present, particularly as we all come together in a heartfelt display of mateship and reflect upon the values that unite us in strength and harmony,” Maj Gen Day said.

As friends and families gather together, the 1.5 million service personnel are recognised, the people who fought with all they had in them for the country we are proud to call home.

Families and people involved with the military are also acknowledged, enduring through all battles, peace keepings, outlining the significant day in the year of 1915 where our troops landed in Gallipoli.

“It’s the spirit embodied by our ANZACs that binds us together and allows us to stand tall on the foundations laid by those who have gone and continue to go before us in service,” Ms Pearce said.

“There’s no greater way to honour the selfless contribution of our past and present service personnel than by participating in your local ANZAC Day commemorations and keeping the spirit of our ANZACs alive,” Maj Gen Day said.

So cook up your best Anzac biscuits, pick rosemary to pin on your shirt and bring your whole town along to a service near you.

Services in the Maranoa:

Amby

8.30am: March commences outside the Amby Shire Hall (please assemble at 8.15am)

8.45am: Service at the Cenotaph

Mungallala

8.30am: Service at Mungallala Memorial Hall, Redford Street (please assemble at 8.15am)

Mitchell

6am: Dawn Service at Mitchell Memorial Park, Cambridge Street

10.30am: March commences outside Mitchell Shire Hall, Cambridge Street (please assemble at 10am)

11am: Service at the Cenotaph, Mitchell Memorial Park, Cambridge Street

Muckadilla

6am: Rising Sun Dawn Service at the Cenotaph, followed by breakfast at the Muckadilla Hall (please bring gold coin donation for breakfast)

Injune

6am: Dawn Service at the Cenotaph, Injune Memorial Hall, followed by breakfast at Cafe on Second.

10am: March commences on Station Street (please assemble at the Post office at 9.45am)

10.30am: March arrives at Injune Memorial Hall for Commemorative Service

11.30am: Lunch to be served at Cafe on Second

Roma

3.30am: RSL Hall open for coffee prior to Dawn Service

4.15am: March commences at RSL Hall to the Cenotaph on Bungil Street.

4.25am: Dawn Service commences at the Cenotaph

5am: Gunfire breakfast at the RSL Hall

9am: Assemble in Station Street for March to the Cenotaph

9.30am: March commences, following Heroes Avenue to the Cenotaph

10am: Service commences at the Cenotaph

12:30pm: Lunch to be served in the RSL Hall for returned service members, widows and invited guests

Wallumbilla

5.45am: Assemble at Wallumbilla Police Station, High Street for March to the Wallumbilla War Memorial, Chadford Street 6.15am:

Dawn Service commences at Wallumbilla War Memorial, Chadford Street.

6.30am: Breakfast at the Wallumbilla Memorial Hall.

Yuleba

8.45am: Assemble for March at Yuleba Memorial Hall, Garden Street

9am: March commences to Yuleba War Memorial, Garth Fox Park, Stephenson Street

9.15am: Morning service – Yuleba War Memorial

10.15am: Light refreshments at the Yuleba Memorial Hall.

Jackson

10.30am: Service at the Old Play Shed. Light refreshments will follow

Surat

11.35am: March from Burrowes Street (assemble at Lions Park from 11.20am) to the Centopath at ANZAC Park, Marcus Street

11.45am: Commemorative Service

1.15pm: Community BBQ at Surat Riverwalk canteen following the service