Despite the cool change at the weekend Anzac Day commemorations in Lightning Ridge were well attended on Sunday morning.
The dawn service, which was held at the Cenotaph at the Lions and RSL Park at 6am, was locals’ first opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices made by servicemen and women - past and present - for our country.
Afterwards, those present were invited to the Lightning Ridge RSL Sub-Branch for breakfast, which had been prepared by the Ladies Auxiliary.
The main event, the Anzac Day March, got under way at about 11am.
The large crowd which had gathered to march, was led by Wauchope-based returned serviceman Jesse Hayes, as it made its way from outside the Lightning Ridge Post Office on Morilla Street down Opal Street to the RSL Sub-Branch on Harlequin Street.
Once it had reached the RSL Sub-Branch the crowd assembled for a commemorative service which was led by Paul Flynn.
Sergeant Phil Cleathero read the prologue.
Sister Cath said the prayer of thanksgiving and the prayer for the nation.
Pastor Mike Keith said the prayer for the Queen.
Mayor Ian Woodcock made the commemoration address before the wreath-laying ceremony.
Paul Flynn laid a wreath on behalf of the RSL, Acting Inspector Scott Russell laid one on behalf of all who had paid the supreme sacrifice in all wars, conflicts and police actions and a returned serviceman volunteered from the crowd to lay a wreath on behalf of the combined services.
Afterwards, the public was invited to lay its own wreaths or tributes.
The Lightning RSL Sub-Branch took the opportunity to pay tribute to its members who had passed away in the last 12 months: Gil Mack, Ned Sproles, Leo Le Cudennel, Ted Prester, Michael Savage, John Ferry and Athol Day.
After the conclusion of the service about 100 people stayed at the Sub-Branch for lunch and to enjoy a game of two-up.
Secretary of the Lightning Ridge RSL Sub-Branch, Scott Davison, would like to thank the following: 2WEB radio, OPAL FM radio, Lightning Ridge Visitor Information Centre, Lightning Ridge Westpac branch, the Neighbourhood Centre, the Ridge Butchery, White’s Pharmacy, Fitzway Concreting, the Ladies Auxiliary, the Lightning Ridge police, the SES, the Rural Fire Service, Lightning Ridge Central School, Lightning Ridge Junior Rugby League, Community Transport, Mr R Brown and Mr P Williams from the Lightning Ridge Bowling Club, Mick Dowd and the staff at the Hotel Motel, Pastor Mike Keith, Sister Catherine, Mayor Woodcock, The Ridge News, members and patrons of the Lightning Ridge RSL Sub-Branch and all the volunteers.
A dawn service was also held on Sunday at the Sheepyards War Memorial.
About 200 people attended the service which was first held in 1997.
Established by Graham and Eileen Pickles, Rodney Atkinson, Reg Blanche and Red Beard, the Sheepyards’ first dawn service was attended by only a dozen people however those in attendance still observed all the formal rituals of an Anzac Day service including reciting the Ode and observing a minute of silence.
As attendance numbers grew the original founders had trouble organising such a large event.
In 2002 they handed the responsibility to a group of Vietnam Veterans who have continued to run an outstanding dawn service.
The Lightning Ridge Central School also honoured Australia’s past and present servicemen and women at an Anzac Day assembly which was held when the students returned to school on Tuesday morning.
Year 11 student Danielle Rennie led the assembly.
Her fellow students Brook Holland and Morgan McGregor spoke about the meaning of Anzac Day.
Maree Walford and local Indigenous elder Roy Barker spoke about the sacrifices made by Aboriginal people in the various wars, conflicts and peace-keeping operations that Australian Defence Force personnel have served in.
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