RELATED CONTENT: Nelligen marks Anzac Day
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More than 1000 marchers and supporters have gathered in Batemans Bay to mark Anzac Day 2016 at a mid-morning ceremony.
The large crowd topped off another large gathering at sunrise.
Batemans Bay RSL Sub-branch president Brian Wheeler said a large crowd had gathered for the Dawn Service at the Honour Stone on the foreshore.
“It went further than I could see,” Mr Wheeler said.
The crowd gathered for the mid-morning march and ceremony included veterans, families, school children, MPs, Eurobodalla Shire Councillors.
Dignitaries included the Reverend Tom Slockee, Mr Wheeler, sub-branch secretary Les Arnould, Royal Australian Navy Commodore Stephen John Hughes and Batemans Bay RSL Women’s Auxiliary representatives.
Bega MP Andrew Constance, Eurobodalla Shire Mayor Lindsay Brown and Councillor Milton Leslight were guests of honour.
John Haslem laid a wreath on behalf of Gilmore MP Ann Sudmalis and Gilmore Labor candidate Fiona Phillips also laid a wreath, as did students from several of the shire’s schools.
In a poignant ceremony, Mr Wheeler presented scrolls to the families of three Eurobodoalla servicemen who died overseas and whose names were not recorded on the honour stone.
The family of Private Charles Herbert Cane drove from Victoria to accept the scroll on behalf of their relative who was killed in action on April 27, 1915, at Lone Pine, Gallipoli, aged 20 years.
He served in the 2nd Infantry Battalion AIF.
The family of two brothers, Private Robert James Lewis and Private Harold Walters Lewis, drove from the Ulladulla/Mollymook area to accept scrolls on their behalf.
Harold was killed in action on December 1, 1915, at Gallipoli, aged 23.
He was part of the 1st Infantry Battalion AIF.
His brother signed up after Harold’s death and died on June 7, 1917, in Belgium at the age of 21.
He was a member of the 45th Infantry Battalion AIF.
