GARRISON CITY TO SALUTE OUR DIGGERS
Anzac Day is a time of reflection and a time to remember for North Queensland’s military and RSL leaders.
For Townsville RSL president Wayne Preedy the day is always special – especially the Dawn Service.
“I think Anzac Day in Townsville – there is no better city in Australia to commemorate Anzac Day being a Garrison city,” he said.
“People talk about it takes a village to raise a child. In my view, it also takes a community to look after its veterans and Townsville would be the greatest city in Australia. I believe that does that.
“It is a really welcoming community here somewhere where people can transition from their service into the community.”
He said the day hit home for him when the first of the sun’s rays announce the start of the day.
“As the dawn is breaking now and you’re looking across, you see the Cenotaph, you see the names of those that have gone before us, to climb the hill and you have people all the way up the hill and going around the corner … it’s just a special moment.
“We live in the freedom that we get to enjoy today because of those that went before.”
He said the Senior Australian Defence Officer RAAF Base Townsville Wing Commander Luke Hedley would be delivering the keynote address, RSL board member Kylie Hasse would recite the Ode with 3rd Brigade Deputy Commander Colonel Boniface Aruma acting as the reviewing officer for the parade.
Commanding officer 3rd Brigade Brigadier Dave Mccammon will commemorate Anzac Day at a Dawn Service at Wewak in PNG and was disappointed to miss Anzac Day in Townsville but said Colonel Aruma was there to represent the brigade.
“Anzac Day is an incredibly important day I think for the nation and for those who serve,” Brig Mccammon said.
“It’s a great time to reflect on those who have gone before us and personally, gives me time to reflect and think about those who have served (and) those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
“I always think closely about friends and people I’ve served with, over that period, in particular, Matthew Hopkins who I served with in Afghanistan, and was killed in action on the March 16, 2009.
“But all of those families as well that have made sacrifices around those who have served and continue to do so.
“So it’s an important day to acknowledge those who have served but also acknowledge the great community and families that support the ADF day in, day out.”
Wing Commander Luke Headley said Anzac Day was significant to him both personally and professionally and he was honoured to deliver the keynote address at the Strand Dawn Service.
“This is my first Anzac Day as SADFO RAAF Townsville and it’s a privilege to be delivering the keynote address.
“More broadly, RAAF Townsville is sending members into the North Queensland community to support Anzac Day events – we have got people going to The Ddawn Service at Guru and the morning service at Woodstock.
“From a personal perspective, that day is very significant because my grandfather served in the RAAF during World War Two in Balikpapan.
“I’ve also have multiple other family members who either still serve or have served.
“So one of my sisters in the Army Reserves, one of my brothers-in-law served in the infantry at 3RAR and another brother-in-law currently serves in the RAAF as an armament engineer. So significant for the whole family.
“For everyone at RAAF base Townsville (it) is a significant moment to reflect on our history, understand the contribution of those who have come before us and also reflect on their current service.
“We acknowledge the courage and sacrifice of our current and former servicemen and women who have served and died in all conflicts and our allies who have served alongside them.”
Thuringowa RSL president and Afghan veteran Jeremy Browne said Anzac Day was a day for reflection.
“It’s a day where we all get together for a like reason. It’s a chance for us to remember our fallen brothers and sisters, and all of us still living with unseen injuries,” he said.
“It’s a huge day for myself as a son of a veteran and from a huge military family.
“My grandfather served in Egypt and my grandfather on my mum’s side was, was taken prisoner in Crete.
“So it’s a huge day for me to reflect on my family service as well as my own service, and I lost mates in Afghanistan.
“Anzac Day is the chance to see a lot of our mates I served with and a chance to catch up and remember our brothers together.”
a“It’s really welcoming community where people can transition from service into their community Wayne Preedy Townsville RSL President
He said Commanding Officer 16th Aviation Brigade Brigadier Fern Thompson would be the reviewing officer for the parade with Federal MP and veteran Phil Thompson delivering the keynote address.
Brigadier Thompson said the Anzac’s courage, endurance and mateships forged a spirit of legend that lives on today.
“Certainly within the aviation brigade on Anzac Day, our soldiers and officers commemorate the spirit as we take part in fly-pasts up in the Darling Downs area, Townsville and Darwin and will also march side-by-side with our aviators, soldiers, sailors and veterans on Anzac Day.
“For us, we have a history of over 100 years in aviation, it’s traced back to the earliest days of the 20th century with traditions and where we’ve formed the Australian Flying Corps and dates back to 1912.
“So we have a significant history.”
She said the day itself was important for her to reflect on her service and why she served.
“I reflect on the absolute mateship and close ties I’ve formed with people for which I serve with every day.
“It reminds me of the people who have come before us, and on whose shoulders I (now) stand.
“They’ve really forged the way for me to be successful in my army career.
“I look forward to Anzac Day because I’m really a steward of our capability, certainly our aviation capability and I want to set the standards and display the values for our army into the future.
“For me, that’s quite a lot of reflection but it is it’s really important to me personally,” she said.
Brig Thompson encouraged members of the public not to be shy and approach soldiers on Anzac Day and ask about their story – especially those from the 16th Aviation Brigade who would be proudly marching at the Thuringowa service.
“Army aviators wear a light blue beret and (I encourage people to) engage them on their stories because we wake up every day to serve our nation and serve our community.
“There’s some really good folk out there who have some amazing stories to tell and share and Anzac Day is a specific day for which they can talk and share those stories.”