Thousands of people are expected to commemorate the fallen and pay tribute to all those who have served Australia during Anzac Day services in Port Stephens on April 25.
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Nelson Bay RSL Sub-Branch is anticipating 3000 or more people to attend its services this year.
Sub-Branch vice president Tom Lupton said it was “tremendous” to see so many people, especially children, turn out to its services.
“It’s very satisfying to see such community involvement on days like Anzac Day, supporting a long-held tradition,” he said.
“In recent years many of our long held traditions have been watered down or ignored. An example for one is Remembrance Day. Once, everyone stopped for the minute of silence. That doesn’t happen anymore.
“To be able to see that Anzac and Remembrance Day in particular are still such a focal points in the community, for our original traditions and processes still being observed, I think that may be one of the reasons why people who see our traditions being watered down still see Anzac Day an opportunity to come and participate.”
Anzac Day goes beyond the anniversary of the landing on Gallipoli in 1915. It is the day in which Australians remember those who fought and died in wars past and present.
Emphasis has been placed on services between 2014-2018 as this marks 100 years since Australia’s involvement in WWI.
The lead up to Anzac Day is a busy one for Nelson Bay RSL Sub-Branch. In addition to organising its Anzac Day services and events, committee members attend school services before the holiday break and visit aged care homes around the Bay.
As has been an Anzac Day tradition for many years in Nelson Bay, a dawn service will be held in Apex Park from 5.30am on April 25. Following the service, a breakfast is held at Wests Nelson Bay Diggers. Uniformed servicemen and women plus ex-service personnel eat free. For members and guests it is $5.
A parade of diggers, servicemen, school children, community groups and volunteers such as Marine Rescue and State Emergency Service personnel will take part in a parade that will start at Nelson Bay Bowling Club, work its way down Stockton Street to Apex Park for the main service at 10.50am.
The SeaSide Singers community choir will sing the national anthems of Australia and New Zealand, which will be done in English and Maori this year, at the main service.
Following the main service, a luncheon will be held at Wests Nelson Bay Diggers. The cost for sub-branch members is $15, uniform personnel free, visitors and guests $30.
New elements have been added to Raymond Terrace RSL Sub-Branch’s Anzac Day services this year, which will honour veterans both passed and in attendance.
Sub-Branch president Captain Vic Jones (Royal Australian Navy Reserves) said a contingent of Irrawang High School’s drum corps will march in the parade this year, that the Last Post will be played at the dawn and main service, and children from seven schools in the area would lay a wreath for a particular war or conflict.
“We’ve invited a veteran from a particular conflict the students will be laying a wreath for to the service,” Captain Jones said.
“When the students are announced to lay the wreath, the veteran will be identified. It’s a way to honour those who have served locally.”
A breakfast will be held at Raymond Terrace Bowling Club following the dawn service.
Captain Jones said he was expecting large numbers to its services this year due to the centenary of Anzac milestone.
Regular participants of commemorative services in Raymond Terrace may notice that the 25-pounder artillery gun that can usually be found in Anzac Park is missing this year.
The gun is undergoing a restoration, one in a number of projects the sub-branch has planned for the park in the future, including a refurbishment of the war memorial.
Anzac Day dawn services will be held in Nelson Bay, Raymond Terrace, Medowie, Karuah and Tanilba Bay. Dawn services will also be held in Stockton and Clarence Town.
Main services are held at the Seaham Knitting Circle memorial, in Nelson Bay, Raymond Terrace, Karuah, Tanilba Bay and Stockton. See below for a full list of services, times and locations.
Tokens of remembrance will be sold at Taylors Beach Bunnings, Salamander Bay Square and Nelson Bay Woolworths up until April 24. Money collected from sales go to the Invictus Games in Sydney in October.
The women’s auxiliary and sub-branch members will be at:
- Bunnings on April 14, 15, 21, 22 between 10am-2pm
- Salamander Bay Square on April 18, 23, 24 9am-4pm
- Woolworths Nelson Bay April 20, 23, 24 10am-2pm
Port Stephens Anzac Day services
Medowie
5.45am: Assemble outside the Bull N Bush Hotel for the march to the memorial in Lions Park on the corner of Medowie and Ferodale roads.
6am: Dawn service at the Lions Park memorial.
Nelson Bay
5.30am: Assemble at Apex Park in Nelson Bay CBD.
5.40am: Dawn service in Apex Park followed by a breakfast at Wests Nelson Bay Diggers.
10.30am: Assemble at Nelson Bay Bowling Club for 10.40am main march to Apex Park.
10.50am: Main service at Apex Park.
Noon: Luncheon at Diggers for sub-branch members, uniformed personnel and partners.
Karuah
5.45am: Assemble at Tony King's garage, old Pacific Highway, and march to memorial located in Memorial Park.
6am: Dawn service at Memorial Park. Breakfast will follow at the Karuah RSL for all participants.
9am: Main service will be conducted at the memorial wall at the entrance to the Karuah RSL.
Raymond Terrace
5.45am: Gather at the Jacaranda Avenue memorial for a 6am dawn service followed by a Diggers breakfast at the Raymond Terrace Bowling Club.
10.40am: March from Sturgeon Street along William and Port Stephens streets to the memorial.
11am: Main service at the memorial.
Seaham
8.45am: Assemble at Seaham Weir Park for the main march at 8.55am.
9am: Service at Knitting Circle followed by morning tea in the park.
Tilligerry Peninsula
5.45am: Dawn service at the memorial at Tilligerry RSL Sports Club, Tanilba Bay.
6.30am: Breakfast at the club for a gold coin donation.
9.40am: March from the southern gates at the Avenue of the Allies, Tanilba Bay to the club.
10am: Main ceremony at the club.
Stockton
5.15am: Form up at Stockton RSL Club for a 5.30am march to the Mitchell Street memorial.
5.45am: Dawn service.
8am: Meet at the George Washington Hotel for an 8.30am march to Mitchell Street memorial.
8.45am: Main ceremony. Return to Stockton RSL Club afterwards for refreshments.
Clarence Town
5.15am: Assemble at Clarence Town Bowling Club for 5.30am march to Memorial Park on the corner of Gray and Queen streets.
6am: Dawn service in Memorial Park followed by a free breakfast at the bowling club.
