Across the Central Coast, the community is preparing to honour the fallen as 2018 ANZAC Day approaches.
For services happening in the former Gosford LGA consult Coast Community News edition 180.
Services are to be held around the Central Coast on April 25, not only to mark the 103rd anniversary of the ANZAC landings at Gallipoli, but also to commemorate the action at Villers-Bretonneux, which effectively ended the German offensive launched a month prior. Troops at VillersBretonneux, France, battled as part of wider effort to halt a German spring offensive, which was threatening to win them the war.
Throughout early April in 1918, Australian units helped defend VillersBretonneux from this onslaught, but at dawn on the 24th, the Germans attacked and captured the town. Leading the British counter-attack, the Australian 13th and 15th Brigades enveloped the town and successfully cleared it of Germans on April 25, the third anniversary of the ANZAC landings at Gallipoli. Services will be held across the region at the following locations: Doyalson Wyee RSL Club’s Dawn Service will be held at the Club Cenotaph at 5am.
There will also be a march, commencing from 8:30am, when marchers will march south along the Pacific Hwy, turn left into Wentworth Ave and then left into the RSL grounds, proceeding to the Cenotaph. Diggers at The Entrance will hold their Dawn Service from 5:30am at Memorial Park, The Entrance, followed by a 6am breakfast at the Club (ticket holders only). Diggers will then participate in the main commemorative service held at 11:45am in Memorial Park. Ourimbah Lisarow RSL Club will be holding their Dawn Service at the Ourimbah RSL Club Memorial at 5:30am. Their march will take place from 2:30pm. Marchers should meet on Yates Rd, Ourimbah, then march south along the Pacific Hwy, past the Club, turn right into Dogtrap Rd and then left into the school grounds.
The main service will take place in Ourimbah Primary School at 3pm. The community is then invited to the Club following the service. The Entrance Long Jetty RSL Sub Branch’s Dawn Service will take place from 5:30am at The Entrance Cenotaph. The RSL Club 20 seater bus will be departing Diggers at The Entrance at 5:10am sharp to transport those attending the service. Vouchers will be available for breakfast on the day from RSL members at the Cenotaph for those who attend the Dawn Service. Breakfast is between 6am and 8am. Their march will take place from 11:30am, commencing from Denning St, outside the Police Station, with marchers travelling down The Entrance Rd towards the Cenotaph. The Memorial Service will be held from 11:45am, dependent on the length of the march. The Sub Branch has advised that: “to maintain the integrity of ANZAC Day, it is preferred that only direct descendants of veterans participate in the march wearing their relative’s original/copied service medals on the right-hand side”.
Toukley RSL’s Dawn Service will commence from 5:20am. Attendees are asked to gather in Athol St Carpark at 5:10am for a short march to the Cenotaph. Upon service conclusion, the Club will open for Sub Branch members, Club members and invited guests. From 6am, a free bacon and egg breakfast will be served. From 8:30am, the Club’s bus will depart to collect members who have organised pick up. The Club will close from 8:30am with buses running from the Club to Canton Beach Rd, the assembly point for the Toukley March, from 9:15am. The march will commence from 9:45am from the Canton Beach Rd assembly point to the Club Cenotaph. The main service commences from the Cenotaph at 10:30am and concludes from 11:30am. For this service, dress rules apply (shirts with collars, enclosed toed footwear and no bright colours or patches). Wyong RSL Club Sub Branch’s Dawn Service will commence from 5:30am in the Club’s memorial forecourt on the corner of Anzac Ave and Margaret St, Wyong.
Their main service will be held at the Cenotaph in Wyong Town Park, from 9:30am, with the main march at 10:30am. Marchers will meet at Wyong Town Park, march down Hely St, turn left onto Anzac Ave, left into Margaret Ave and left into the Club forecourt. In the event of poor weather, both services will be held inside the RSL Club. Central Coast Council is encouraging everyone to get out and support local ANZAC Day services and marches across the region and recognise this as a very important milestone in the nation’s history. Council advises locals that there will be a number of road closures in place to accommodate marches and the expected surge in crowd numbers for this very significant celebration.
Special ANZAC services held at Dooralong
For services happening in the former Gosford LGA consult Coast Community News edition 180.
For services taking place across the Woy Woy Peninsula, consult the Peninsula News edition 442.
Source: Website, Apr 5 Central Coast Council Media