On Thursday, November 11, Australians everywhere commemorated our fallen soldiers.

Locals paid their respects through a small COVID-safe Remembrance Day ceremony at the Narrabri RSL Club.

The attendance was smaller than usual, the service shorter, and all attendees fully vaccinated, to ensure the health and safety of everyone present.

Narrabri RSL sub-branch president Gary Mason OAM led the ceremony, which was relocated indoors due to wet weather.

“With the help of the RSL’s Paul Gordon, we made the decision overnight to move the service inside,” Mr Mason said.

“We just didn’t want to risk it with the predicted storms.”

After Mr Mason’s address, a minute’s silence was observed by attendees at 11am, before Kathrine Crossara played the Last Post bugle call.

Mr Mason then read the traditional For the Fallen poem, followed by the wreath laying.

Narrabri Shire Council mayor Ron Campbell then read a prayer to commemorate the fallen.

Guests then sung the Australian national anthem, before the ceremony concluded.

Mr Mason shared his thanks before attendees shared lunch together.

Around 50 guests were present, which Mr Mason was happy with.

“Under non-COVID circumstances, we’d usually have around 70 people in attendance,” he said.

“So to have about 50, even with the safety restrictions and last-minute move indoors, was great.”

Overall, he said he was pleased with how the event panned out.

“The only main difference we had between an indoor and outdoor service was that we weren’t able to have the flag raising ceremony, so we just did that once we had finished inside,” Mr Mason said.

“I’m very grateful to everyone who helped pull this event together, especially Paul for being so flexible with the last-minute change.

“I’m also very thankful to Kathrine who didn’t have long to prepare before playing in front of the crowd.

“And lastly, I want to thank all of the locals who paid their respects – whether you attended in person or watched on from home, we appreciate it.

A livestream of the service can be viewed on The Courier’s Facebook page.

See more like this:

To order photos from this page click here