remembrance

ANZAC SERVICES 2002

Lutwyche War Cemetery, Queensland
Townsville War Cemetery, North Queensland
Sandgate War Cemetery, Newcastle, New South Wales
Narromine War Cemetery
Adelaide River War Cemetery, Northern Territory

Lutwyche War Cemetery, Queensland

Anzac Day services were held at the Lutwyche War Cemetery and the Queensland Garden of Remembrance. Both services were attended by several hundred people. The service at the Lutwyche War Cemetery, organised by the Kedron Wavell RSL, began at 5.30 a.m. A generator, supplied by OAWG staff, was used to illuminate the Cross of Sacrifice. The Queensland State Manager assisted at the service at the Queensland Garden of Remembrance, organised by the Geebung-Zillmere, Bald Hills-Aspley RSL Sub Branch.

An Anzac Day Service was held at the Eatons Hill Primary School on 24 April, where a Lone Pine was presented to the school by Rod Dorey, OAWG State Manager for Queensland.

	above: Anzac Day Service, Queensland Garden of Remembrance

	above: Eatons Hills Primary School Anzac Day Service

Townsville War Cemetery, North Queensland

The annual pilgrimage to the Townsville War Cemetery on Anzac Day was attended by approximately 100 visitors. The pilgrimage is an annual event at the war cemetery, which OAWG Regional Manager, Mr Peter Fox, assists in organising and attends as a representative of the Office.

	Anzac Day Pilgrimage, Townsville War Cemetery

Sandgate War Cemetery, Newcastle, New South Wales

A large service is held at the Sandgate War Cemetery each year. The parade this year was led by a restored jeep with full gunnery attached. Several hundred people attended the service, held on 21 April 2002. OAWG was represented at the service by Mr Geoff Taplin, OAWG State Manager for New South Wales.

	left: The march to the Sandgate War Cemetery, Anzac Day right: Restored jeep, Anzac Day Service, Sandgate War Cemetery

Narromine War Cemetery

On Sunday 6 October 2002 a service was held at the Narromine War Cemetery to commemorate the 14 airmen who died while training at Narromine during the Second World War. As well as members of the public, the service was attended by many of the local ex-Service community, including ex-RAAF personnel from Narromine who served during the Second World War. Fourteen of these ex-Service personnel laid a wreath at each of the fourteen headstones. A wreath of red roses, from the men and women now serving in the RAAF, was also laid by the seventh member of the RAAF Roulettes, Flight Lieutenant Michael Winjnberg. During the service, six other members of the Roulettes team, led by Squadron Leader Sean Bellenger, conducted a flypast in ‘wedge’ formation over the War Cemetery. The Roulettes were in Narromine to take part in the local Narromine Air Show.

	above: Returned veterans lay wreaths at headstones, Narromine War Cemetery (Photo courtesy of Narromine News and Trangie Advocate, photographer Ms Alice Kelly)

	Wreath laid at headstone, Narromine War Cemetery

Adelaide River War Cemetery, Northern Territory

April 25th saw the Coomalie Community Government Council hold its annual Anzac Day Dawn Service. Each year more and more people are attending this early morning event, with at least 650 attending from Darwin and Katherine this year.

On behalf of my mother… and our family I would sincerely like to thank your Department for the bronze plaque in the Queensland Garden of Remembrance. The family have been to the Pinnaroo Lawn Cemetery and were very impressed, its wonderful to think Dad is with so many other Australian Diggers.

I am writing to thank you most sincerely and all concerned for the official memorial for my late husband which has been completed at Sandgate Cemetery. I’m sure Keith will be smiling from above. He was very proud of the three years he spent in the RAAF in the Pacific at the age of nineteen. He is sadly missed — a gentleman.