ANZAC Day in the Macleay will be commemorated by major services in Kempsey, Crescent Head and South West Rocks.
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Other villages in the shire will hold their own services to mark the 99th Anzac Day since it was first established in 1916.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the commencement of the First World War.
The conflict, supposed to be ‘the war to end all wars’, lasted from 1914 to 1918.
The Gallipoli campaign of 1915 against the Turks gave birth of the Anzac legend that we celebrate today.
More than 60,000 Australian soldiers and 18,000 New Zealanders were killed.
Worldwide the conflict caused the deaths of more than 17 million people through violent death, disease and malnutrition.
The 2014 Kempsey-Macleay RSL Sub-Branch commemoration at the East Kempsey cenotaph will again feature students from local high schools as guest speakers, giving their thoughts on this sacrifice and what Anzac Day means to the younger generation of Australians.
Kempsey-Macleay RSL Sub-branch secretary Alan Goulder said guest speakers from local schools were first tried last year and proved so popular they were doing it again.
“We used to have an invited guest speaker address our Anzac ceremonies,’ Mr Goulder said.
“But they can be hard to organise if they are not local and they are often busy with their own commemorations.
"So last year we invited two students to speak and it proved to be very popular.
“So this year we will be inviting Sara Robinson from St Paul’s and Kyiarra Moseley from the Kempsey Adventist School to be our speakers.
“I think it is good to get the perspective on Anzac Day from some of the younger generation.”
Kempsey-Macleay RSL Sub-Branch Anzac Day schedule:
5am - Coffee and tea will be served in the memorial hall.
5.20am - Ex-service personnel will assemble at the hall and march to the East Kempsey cenotaph.
5.20am - Ex-service personnel will assemble at Willawarrin.
5.30am - Dawn services will start at East Kempsey and Willawarrin.
6am - There will be breakfast for those who attended the dawn service in Kempsey served in the Kempsey-Macleay RSL Club auditorium.
(No admission charge for those who attended the service wearing medals, RSL badge, in uniform or invited guests. $5 for all others.)
6.30am - A service will be conducted at the East Kempsey cemetery.
6.45am - A service will be conducted at the West Kempsey Cemetery.
9am - Services will start at Frederickton, Crescent Head, Willawarrin and Gladstone.
10am - The Hat Head Bowling Club Service will start.
10.15am - All marchers are to assemble in Sydney St, next to the service station.
10.30am - All marchers will proceed to the East Kempsey cenotaph.
10.55am Services will start in Kempsey and at Bellrbook.
Noon - At the Kempsey Macleay RSL Club a lunch will be served only for all serving and ex-service personnel wearing medals or RSL badges and those personnel, in uniform, who assisted in the march of service.
South West Rocks:
Dawn service: assemble at the School of Arts at 5am for hot coffee, courtesy of the SWR Lions Club.
At 5.45am move off in silence to the cenotaph. Service starts at 5.55am. After the service there will be sausage sizzle at the school of arts.
Anzac march: assemble at the car park in Landsborough St at 10.30am. Move off at 10.40am.
Transport will be available for veterans if they are unable to march. Please contact Tom Borich on 6566 5546 if you wish to do the march by car.
Those who have service medals are asked to wear them.
All South West Rocks Public School children and students attending Kempsey schools have been invited to march as school groups in uniform.
A luncheon reunion will be held at the SWR Country Club.
Bookings are essential as numbers are limited.
Please ring Alex Robinson on 6567 0069 or Arthur McKean on 0412 739 573 by 5pm this Wednesday, April 24.
Stuarts Point
THE Stuart’s Point RSL Sub-Branch has finalised arrangements for this year’s Anzac Day commemorations.
Participants will assemble at the Stuart's Point Workers' Club, at 10.30 am.
The march to the Memorial will begin at 10.45am.
The service will commence at 11am, with lunch and activities at the club afterwards.
All are most welcome.
