The First Fish Creek Scout Group, led by Tiffany Wightman, and pictured here with Sam Wightman and Clacy Dobbyn, said they were very honoured to be part of the volunteer working team from Foster RSL and Foster Cemetery in preparation for Anzac Day, planting flags to commemorate Foster’s service people.
Anzac Day commemorations around the Prom Coast
ANZAC Day is just around the corner on Saturday, April 25 and local RSL (Returned and Services League) clubs have been busy preparing for the day when five Memorial services of Remembrance will be held in the Corner Inlet District.
History shows that South Gippslanders were among the first to rally when Australia’s call to service came. In WW2, many Gippsland servicemen were deployed to the war in the Middle East – some of whom were later shipped straight from the Middle East to the Japanese ground invasion of New Guinea, in a desperate attempt to save Australia from attack as well.
While Saturday’s services will be held in remembrance of lives lost in these and other wars involving Australian citizens, there is also acknowledgement and thankfulness for peace in our country as well.
At Fish Creek, a service will be conducted by Danny Brickle at the Fish Creek War Memorial Rock of Remembrance, commencing at 11.00am. There will also be a guest speaker talking about the war service of a local Fish Creek identity. Wreaths and floral tributes can be placed at the Memorial and all are welcome to attend. Together, the community will honour and remember through a 45-minute service and wreath laying. ANZAC scarves will be available for purchase on the day for $5 each. After the service, there will be ANZAC biscuits and cuppa, hosted by the Fish Creek Memorial Hall committee, who are organising the event for the community. All are warmly welcome to come together, reflect, and connect.
At Foster, marchers will gather at the Foster Historical Museum at 10.45am, prior to marching to the town Cenotaph. Foster RSL President Bruce Lester will conduct the 11.00am service and will give a presentation on the returned and fallen servicemen named on the Cenotaph, all of whom were volunteers.
Everyone is welcome to attend the Foster service, including all the local schools, and all are invited to lay a wreath if they wish to. Following this ceremony, all are welcome at the service in the Foster War Memorial Arts Centre. The guest speaker is Wilhelm (Ric) Jackson, an Afghanistan veteran. Please come along and hear about Ric’s experiences in one of the more recent arenas of war involving Australian troops.
Toora RSL President, Rod Coughran-Lane will conduct two services at Toora, as well as a service at Welshpool. The dawn ceremony at Toora will commence at the town’s War Memorial at 6.00am, with refreshments afterwards at the Toora RSL hall. A wreath laying service will take place at 11.00am, followed by light refreshments at the Toora RSL hall. All are welcome to attend either or both services.
Likewise at Welshpool’s 9.30am ANZAC Day service, also to be conducted by Rod, everyone is welcome to attend at the Welshpool War Memorial.
For any local organisations wishing to place a wreath at Foster for the first time, Foster RSL would love to know in advance so that President Bruce can acknowledge your presence on the day.
Thank you to everyone who has supported ANZAC badge selling in Foster and district. Sales are going very well and the funds will be used to support war veterans in need of help. Please note that of the money raised from sale of badges and pens, half remains with the RSL club and is specifically used to help their local war veterans, while half is retained by RSL Victoria for assisting veterans who do not have access to a local RSL club for support, as is the case in many rural areas of Victoria. Badges will still be available for purchase until ANZAC Day. Carole Williams, Foster RSL Publicity Officer
