Check back across the day for a special Anzac Day edition of the news blog, with photos and stories from across the region
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Hello all,
Max Stainkamph with you for the Anzac Day news blog, where we’ll have photos from all across the region this morning, with Caitlyn Grant taking over at lunch.
Check back across the day for photos and updates.
UPDATE, 5 pm: Anzac Day continues
As the day comes to a close, we have a few more stories and pictures up. Keep an eye out for tomorrow’s paper and a very special gallery we’ve popped together.
Monique Preston got up extra early this morning to make the trip to Nathalia to catch the dawn service, among around 200 others she reports. This stunning picture by Megan Fisher, among others, can be seen here.
Gianni Francis went out to Merrigum where residents honoured the sacrifice of the original 1915 Anzacs.
And finally, myself and our photographer Megan Fisher attended the commemorative service and march in Shepparton this morning.
RSL sub-branch president Robert Wilkie welcomed the crowd with the following, I think it summed up the ceremony nicely.
“We meet here today not to glorify war or praise victors, but to remember those who served our country in times of conflict and crisis, and to reflect upon their selfless sacrifice.”
Megan took some very, very good pictures.
UPDATE, 3.20 pm: A bit of sports for your day
Hello, Caitlyn Grant here on the reins.
To break up the Anzac Day content (there will be more, our photographers have taken some stellar pics), I’ve got some sport goodness for your Monday arvo.
The Murray Bushrangers marked their return to Shepparton in fine style on Friday night, smashing the Northern Knights.
In a ripper game many have been awaiting, Goulburn Valley League A-grade match beat all expectations on Sunday as crowds watched Shepparton United deny Mooroopna in a heart-stopper.
And in absolutely massive news, the man, the myth, Eddie Betts took to the field for Rumbalara on Saturday. Zac Standish covered it here and had a chat with the man himself.
UPDATE, 1.30pm: Some non-Anzac Day news for your Monday
In some non-Anzac Day news, there’s some magic coming up the highway this week. Cosentino is coming to Shepparton this week, and Caitlyn Grant had a chat to the man himself ahead of the show.
Check out what he had to say here — I’ve spoken to him before and he’s genuinely such a fun character.
Speak of the devil, Caitlyn will now jump into the hot seat and steer your home this afternoon, with a heap more photos from across the region to come.
UPDATE, 12.45pm: ‘Remember, represent and resilience’: Tatura’s Anzac Day dawn service
Youssef Saudie made his way down to Tatura this morning for the dawn service and spoke to several people who attended.
He also spoke to RSL sub-branch president Robin Fairchild, who spoke about the Anzac spirit and what the day meant to him.
UPDATE, 12.15pm: Remembering the rats of Tobruk, Murchison service
Numurkah’s Kelly Cursons has written a lovely letter in remembering her father, Rat of Tobruk Sergeant Hugh William John Hill, who served at the siege of Tobruk.
It’s a really nice piece and touches on the history of the siege — have a read here.
Meanwhile, as I said earlier here’s the piece on Murchison residents turning up for the dawn service, which was put together by Georgia Rossiter.
UPDATE, 10.45am: Youssef Saudie’s snaps of Tatura
The march at Tatura is under way at the moment, as is the one at Shepparton, and while we’ll have plenty of those snaps later on this afternoon Youssef Saudie has some from this morning.
UPDATE, 9.45am: Photos from Murchison
Georgia Rossiter has flicked me some photos of the Anzac Day service from Murchison.
About 100 community members gathered at the Murchison War Memorial this morning for the service, followed by a breakfast.
I had some of the breakfast at Murch last year, and am envious of Georgia for being able to tuck into it. Less envious of her half an hour drive from Shepparton, mind you.
UPDATE, 9.00am: Mooroopna March under way
Anna McGuinness is out at Mooroopna for the march this morning, which is under way now.
UPDATE, 8.45am: Photos from Nathalia, Violet Town
Some photos from Megan Fisher and Geoff Adams have started landing in my virtual in-tray.
Megan was at Nathalia this morning, where about 200 people were in attendance.
Meanwhile Geoff Adams in Violet Town, where in the grey light of pre-dawn, Violet Town RSL sub branch president James Howden recalled the sacrifice of the district’s citizens in wars and conflicts.
UPDATE, 8.20am: Shepparton’s biggest Anzac Day turnout
Morning all, I’ve just come along from the Shepparton dawn service, which a few people from the RSL told me was one of the biggest turnouts they’ve seen for a dawn service.
I’ve written a story about the service, which you can read here, and we’ve got plenty of photos to come, which will be added to the story once they’ve been downloaded and popped into our system.
Monique Preston and Megan Fisher were at Nathalia, Georgia Rossiter made the trip to Murchison, Geoff Adams was at Violet Town and Youssef Saudie was at Tatura, and I’ll have stories from them and from across the region.
Meanwhile, yesterday Darren Linton went down to the unveiling of a statue of Shepparton’s Sir Murray Bourchier.
Sir Bourchier was a farmer, soldier, politician and statesman most famous for leading the last mounted cavalry charge at Beersheba on October 31, 1917.
Journalist