THOUSANDS of people came together right around the Whitsundays to honour service men and women, on Anzac Day (Thursday, April 25, 2024).
Almost without exception, every service broke the record for attendance including dawn services and the main daytime services.
The Airlie Beach-Whitsunday RSL Sub Branch reported a record breaking number of people at the Dawn Service, in Cannonvale.
“Our indication is that between 2,800 and 3,000 people attended the Dawn Service,” Sub Branch secretary Phil Smailes said.
“It was the largest attendance at our Dawn Service ever!
“The Dawn Service was followed by a Gunfire Breakfast at our home, the Jubilee Tavern, in Jubilee Pocket.”
Mr Smailes said the Main March and Service, in Airlie Beach, were well attended, including many people who stood and watched the parade go along the Airlie Beach Main Street.
“The parade was privy to a fly-past by a Vietnam war helicopter, which was very befitting for Anzac Day,” Mr Smailes said.
“At the service, many school students laid wreaths, along with the many dignitaries present.
“Andrew Willcox MP, a representative from MP Amanda Camm’s office, our Mayor Ry Collins and Councillors Jan Clifford and Clay Bauman were all in attendance.”
Mr Smailes said, later on, a Trench Lunch was held, at the Jubilee Tavern, and people attended various locations for the traditional game of Two Up, in the afternoon.
“All in all, it was an early ‘get up and go’ for our volunteer members, who tirelessly set up the Dawn Service and the Community March and Service,” he said.
“By late afternoon, several volunteers were in need of some sleep!”
Meanwhile, in Collinsville, there was a large attendance for both the Dawn and Morning Services, on Anzac Day, with ‘just about perfect weather’ reported for both services.
After assembling at the cenotaph, the welcome was delivered by Collinsville Community Association service co-ordinator Shayne Crump.
Mr Crump said there were about 200 people at the Dawn Service, which was attended by Lieutenant Jordan Lovaszy, Surveillance Troop Leader, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, Lavarack Barracks, Townsville.
Lieutenant Jordan Lovaszy delivered an address on behalf of the Australian Defence Force.
Whitsunday Regional Council Deputy Mayor Michelle Wright was also in attendance, as well as other dignitaries and members of the public.
“We also had approximately 400 people at the Main Service, with a march through town to a service at ANZAC Park,” Mr Crump said.
A poem entitled ‘A Quiet Dawn’ was written, and read out at the service, by high school student Justin Fisher.
The laying of wreaths, the Ode, the Last Post, a minute’s silence, the Rouse and the National Anthems of Australia and New Zealand closed out another memorable day.
The day before Anzac Day, leaders from all four schools in the Collinsville and Scottville area, as well as community members, placed poppies at the graves of returned service men and women, at the Collinsville Cemetery.
Bowen RSL Sub Branch treasurer Rhonda Doyle reported ‘good crowds of more than 500 attending each service’, including the Dawn Service and the Main Service, both held at the Cenotaph, in Herbert Street, Bowen.
The Main Service followed the march, stepping off from the Bowen RSL, and included the laying of wreaths.
In Proserpine, meanwhile, the march also started at the RSL, in Chapman Street, Proserpine, and then paraded down the Main Street, where hundreds of people lined the streets to watch.
The parade then headed down the street, towards the Proserpine Entertainment Centre, where the Main Service took place, at the Proserpine Cenotaph, where the Dawn Service had also taken place earlier.
For lots more photos of Anzac Day services across the region see pages 14 and 15 of this newspaper.
