By Kath Gannaway
ANZAC Day marches, ceremonies and services will be held across the nation on Friday 25 April.
The ceremony commemorates the landing at Gallipoli in 1915 of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps and pays tribute to all those who lost their lives in war.
This year is also the 90th anniversary of the battle of Villers-Bretonneux, the Battle of Megiddo, the capture of Damascus and the end of the First World War.
In the Yarra Valley, the tradition of Anzac Day, starting with the Dawn Service and Anzac marches and continuing with reunions and even the odd game of two-up, continues to grow each year.
Below are details of Anzac Day services around the Valley.
Upper Yarra
A DAWN Service will be held at the Cenotaph in Yarra Junction, commencing at 6am, followed by a community breakfast at the Upper Yarra RSL in Settlement Road, Yarra Junction.
THE Anzac Day March will assemble at 10am at the main intersection in Yarra Junction for a march to the Cenotaph commencing at 10.30am. A sausage sizzle and friendly game of two-up will follow back at the RSL.
Contact: Shelley Gray on 5967 1771.
Warburton
THE Anzac Day March will leave from the RSL hall in Main Street at 10.25am (assembly from 10am) to march to the Cenotaph, where a wreath laying ceremony will take place.
A lunch will be served at Warburton RSL and all ex-service men and women and members of the public are invited.
Contact Dennis Reeves on 5967 4543.
Lilydale
A DAWN service will be held at 5.40am (assembly from 5.30am) at the Cenotaph in the main street. It concludes at 6.30am followed by a march back to the RSL Sub-branch, where refreshments will be served. Contact Albert Grulke on 5966 2085.
Marysville
THE Anzac Day March from Marysville Hotel to the Cenotaph will commence at 11am (assembly at 10.45am). A service will follow at the Cenotaph immediately after. Contact Richard Hughes on 5963 3237 for details.
Healesville
A DAWN Service will be held at the Cenotaph at Healesville Memorial Hall at 5.50am, followed by the traditional gunfire breakfast at the Healesville RSL.
The March, commencing at 10am at Church Street, will be followed by a wreath laying ceremony and service at the Cenotaph. Light refreshments will follow at the RSL club. Phone the Healesville RSL on 5962 5017 for details.
Yarra Glen
THE March will start from the corner of King and Bell Streets at 10.15am (assemble from 10am). Those who can’t walk the whole distance can join the march at the laneway between Banq Restaurant and Rosier’s Real Estate.
A wreath laying ceremony and service will follow at the Cenotaph in front of the Yarra Glen Memorial Hall at 10.45am.
Morning tea will be served in the hall after the service, at approximately 11.15am. Contact Ed Bartosh on 9739 1879.
Coldstream/Yering
ON Monday 28 April, students from Yering Primary School, Lilydale RSL members and local residents will hold an Anzac service at the Coldstream War Memorial (on the corner of Melba and Maroondah Highways) at 9am.
The ceremony has become an annual event offering local residents an opportunity to commemorate service men and women from the Yering/Coldstream area who lost their lives in war.
Phone Yering Primary School on 9739 1451.
Wandin Yallock
THE Rotary Club of Wandin is hosting the Anzac Day Service at the War Memorial on the corner of Hunter and Beenak Roads in Wandin Yallock. Members of the public and dignitaries are invited to place a wreath in memory of the service men and woman of the Seville and Wandin districts.
The service starts at 9am and will be followed by a community morning tea. Phone Kevin Parker on 5964 4957.
Children’s service
UPPER Yarra RSL will also host the annual Children’s Anzac Day Commemoration, starting at 10.30am, on Wednesday 30 April.
Students from 11 local schools will take part in a program of events including singing, poetry and talks by the various school representatives.
Ex-service men and women will talk with groups of students following the laying of wreaths.
Members of the public are invited to attend the event at the Settlement Road RSL and stay on for a sausage sizzle afterwards.
