The Narooma Anzac Day march and service took place in brilliant sunshine at Club Narooma on Monday.
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Crowds lined the Princes Highway as the marchers went from the Narooma Visitors Information Centre around the roundabout and into Club Narooma.
Just as the march started, two Navy Bell 429 helicopters from 723 Squadron, based at HMAS Albatross, flew past on their way down the Far South Coast.
In a nice touch, Phil May from Narooma Horse and Carriage transported some of the elderly veterans in the parade using his retired pacer horses Starlight and Buddy.
It was standing room only as the crowd lined up around the fence and on the cliff to watch the service.
The 11am service followed on from the well-attended dawn service. Click here to see photos from the Narooma dawn service.
The Narooma Community Choir performed as did the choir from Narooma Public School. Local young singer Samantha Sly also sang a moving song, while Mark “Podge” Rogerson played the Last Post on his cornet.
The keynote speaker was Captain Ross Gordon who gave a moving speech at the Narooma Anzac Day service, making his parents Judy and Ron Gordon of Dalmeny very proud.
The catafalque party from the Australian Defence Force Academy Officer Training College stood guard at the War Memorial and was overseen by Warrant Officer 2 Michael Kelly, who is Squadron Sergeant Major and instructor at the academy.
Several of the marchers carried photographs of their loved ones who had served their country. Singled out for special mention was Allan Forster, 96, of Dalmeny who was a “Rat of Tobruk” in WWII and who attended with his wife Imelda and son Mark.
After the wreaths were laid, the crowd retired inside into the shade of Club Narooma to await the start of Two-Up later that afternoon.
Also on display for the first time this year were the small white crosses in the new Garden of Remembrance, which will be erected each year and can be purchased from the RSL sub-branch.
The members of Narooma RSL sub-branch, together with Narooma Golf Club, will be hosting an Inaugural “Red Poppy” Ball in July to raise money for RSL Life’s “Homes for Heroes” and to celebrate 100 years of RSL in Australia. It will be held in the Auditorium at the Golf on Saturday, July 30 and tickets go on sale from May onward.
The Ball will be a dressy affair and will feature live music, dancing, auctions, silent auctions, raffles and a three course meal. The planning committee hope to fill the auditorium and have already had several people wanting to buy tickets. In the lead up to the event, the RSL members are selling raffle tickets for a beautiful hand-made patchwork quilt, featuring red poppies and the rising sun logo, made by the Dalmeny Quilters. The raffle will be drawn on the night of the Ball.
“The beneficiary, “Homes for Heroes” is part of RSL LifeCare’s services and is a comprehensive rehabilitation Service for veterans of contemporary (Post 1991) conflicts like the war in Afghanistan”, says event coordinator, Gilly Kearney. At any given time, there are 3,000 veterans who are homeless, suffering from mental illness and just living day to day is a struggle. “Homes for Heroes” provides crisis accommodation, support for families, treatment, counselling and support in finding employment” Gilly said. “There are several contemporary veterans living in the Narooma area and they all know someone who is “doing it tough” or worse still, added to the statistics of veteran suicide.
“We hope that lots of people come along- the tickets are only $45.00 per person, which for a meal and entertainment is very reasonable” Gilly said. “We look forward to the event and thank everyone who has offered support whether it be prizes, services or in-kind this far. Narooma always gets behind a cause”.
For more information you can contact Gilly directly on 0422 272 805 or visit the Facebook Page: “Narooma Red Poppy Ball” for updates.