A crowd of about 800 people was on hand for the service hosted by the Moama RSL sub-branch.
Vietnam Veteran and Moama RSL sub-branch president Ken Jones spoke to the heart of what Anzac Day means to him and many others.
Top turnout: A crowd of about 800 people was in attendance for the Moama dawn service.
Photo by
Steve Huntley
“Today is a very sombre day,” he said.
“But it is an enjoyable day as it gives us mates the chance to get back together, some we don’t see for 12 months, but we always catch up today.
“It is a very important day for us.”
Attendance: The crowd at the 2023 Moama Anzac Day dawn service.
Photo by
Steve Huntley
Mr Jones described the crowd as the “biggest” he had seen for a dawn service during his involvement with the Moama RSL sub-branch.
United: The Australian and New Zealand flags.
Photo by
Steve Huntley
“The turnout (this morning) exceeded all our expectations,” he said.
“It is the biggest crowd we’ve had here.
Commanding performance: Bugler Laticia Tomkinson played The Last Post.
Photo by
Steve Huntley
“As we started the service they were still streaming in here, it was just wonderful.”
Mr Jones and Murray River Council Mayor Chris Bilkey were the keynote speakers at the dawn service.
Speaker: Murray River Council Mayor Chris Bilkey.
Photo by
Steve Huntley
Cr Bilkey paid tribute to Australia’s forgotten soldiers and a history of conflicts, including the current situation in Ukraine.
A fine service was closed out by bugler Laticia Tomkinson, a member of the Echuca Federal Band.
Reflection: The crowd pauses to remember them during the Anzac Day dawn service.
Photo by
Steve Huntley
Mr Jones said the dawn service was the first step in a busy day for the Moama RSL sub-branch.
Service: Vietnam Veteran Alan Sullivan was among those in attendance.
Photo by
Steve Huntley
“The day’s only just begun, we’ve got a full day ahead,” he said.
“We’ve got the commemorate service at 9am which is attended by all the school children.
“Later in the day we’ll be out to the club to do the thing we do best …. two-up.”
Special day: Bruce Smith, Leigh Bennett and Col Perkins at the Moama dawn service.
Photo by
Steve Huntley
20°C