Four ANZAC Day Commemorative Services to be held in Junee Shire
The Junee RSL Sub-Branch will conduct THREE Commemorative Services on ANZAC Day — Thursday, April 25, 2024
Cenotaph, Broadway, Junee
· Dawn Service @ 5:40am
· Main Service @ 10:40am
Junee Reefs Ivor Hall (Junee Reef Road, west of Ivor Road)
· Afternoon Service @ 3:00pm
PLEASE ARRIVE AT LEAST 10 MINUTES PRIOR TO START TIMES
Any local school, community group, or sporting club, wishing to lay a wreath at the Main Service AND would like to be listed in the Order of Service booklet, please email juneesb@rslnsw.org.au with your Organisation Name BEFORE 5pm April 19, 2024.
Schools, Community Organisations and Sporting Clubs shall be called upon to lay their wreaths during the Commemorative Service, followed by a call for any personal wreaths to be laid.
We welcome any indigenous veterans, serving personnel, along with their families, especially local Wiradjuri people, to join us at any, or all, of our services and to participate in the ANZAC March.
Group Captain Darren Dolan AM, Chief of Staff at the Australian Defence Force Academy Headquarters, will give the Commemorative Address during the Main Service at the Junee Cenotaph. Group Captain Dolan has served more than 30 years in the Air Force, producing a host of significant advances in combat support in 13 Squadron, and in training delivery and capability development for 1 Recruit Training Unit.
"The various ANZAC Day Services held across Junee Shire are always extremely well attended — All our local schools participate, various not-for-profit community organisations and local sporting clubs are present, and the residents of Junee Shire turn out in force to recognise, and commemorate, our serving personnel, veterans, war widows and widowers, and especially those that shall not grow old!" said Mr Greg Zakharoff, President of Junee RSL Sub-Branch.
"A flyover from Air Force Heritage Squadron, No 100 Squadron, based in Temora, has been requested and we hope to see the RAAF recruits from 1 Recruit Training Unit, based in Wagga Wagga, return to participate, and lead, again in this years ANZAC March in Junee." continued Mr Zakharoff.
"A lot of effort has been put in behind the scenes, by a small number of dedicated volunteers, to make our services the success they are — but we are especially proud to have students from Junee High School actively involved in our services each year. We have a team of young volunteers who start at around 0300 in the morning to help set up the audio system in time for the Dawn Service. Then they jump straight back into work, while everyone else is at the Gunfire Breakfast (or back in bed for a few hours) to assist in expanding the system so that the audio can cover an area along Broadway that's the equivalent to the size of a soccer field for the 1,000+ people who attend The March and Main Service. Once the Main Service concludes, the student volunteers commence packing everything up as quickly as possible so they can head out to Junee Reefs Ivor Hall to setup the audio system up again for the Afternoon Service. Their day finally finishes up at around 1800 (6:00pm) after they've packed up the equipment at Junee Reefs and returned it to storage back in Junee itself — it's one long day for these young men and women, but their efforts are gratefully appreciated by the Junee RSL Branch Committe, our veterans and Junee Community" concluded Mr Zakharoff
ANZAC Day March – including historic vehicles for Veterans
Veterans, Service Personnel, and their families; along with Schools, Local Community Groups, Sporting Clubs and Individuals; are cordially invited to join the RSL Sub-Branch in marching to the Main Service.
Those wishing to March, please gather on the Peel Street side of Memorial Park by 10:15am.
The March will then proceed to Railway Square, where a single Wreath shall be laid at the Junee Railway Men and Women Memorial Flagpole. The March will resume and cross the railway level crossing, through the roundabout and march down Broadway until reaching the Cenotaph.
ps: YES! Veterans (and others) are also welcome to participate in the March in mobility scooters AND remain in them near the Cenotaph.
Gunfire Breakfast, Luncheon and Afternoon Tea
On completion of the Dawn Service, the Junee RSL Sub-Branch would like to invite attendees down to the Junee Ex-Services Memorial Club for the Gunfire Breakfast. Those personnel in uniform, veterans wearing medals and Junee RSL Sub-Branch Members are entitled to the Gunfire Breakfast free of charge, in recognition of their service. Members of the public are encouraged to make a donation to the Junee RSL Sub-Branch.
Then after the Main Service, attendees are again invited down to the Junee Ex-Services Memorial Club for lunch and camaraderie. Those personnel in uniform, veterans wearing medals and Junee RSL Sub-Branch Members are entitled to Lunch free of charge, in recognition of their service.
Members of the public may purchase lunch, at own cost, from either the bistro or the pizza and snack menus.
Afternoon Tea shall be served at Junee Reefs Hall following the Afternoon Commemorative Service.
For more information about the ANZAC Day Commemorative Services, please contact Junee RSL Sub-Branch Secretary, Bruce Warburton, on 0400 137 650.
Bethungra Dawn Service
The Integrated Service People's Association of Australia will also conduct a Dawn Service at Memorial Park, Olympic Highway, Bethungra commencing at 6:15am sharp (Please arrive at 6:00am)
For more details about the Bethungra service, please contact Bob or Gladys Bak on 02 9643 4402 or 0413 331 550