Anzac Day support growing

Support for Anzac Day from the Narrabri community continues to grow, with commemorations drawing larger crowds compared to previous years.

Tuesday’s dawn service at Narrabri West saw a large attendance, followed by a growing crowd at the town dawn service at the Narrabri RSL.

The morning commemoration was also widely supported and organisers were pleased to see the community commemorate Anzac Day in strong numbers.

“It’s getting bigger and bigger,” Narrabri RSL Sub-branch president Gary Mason OAM told the gathering at the town dawn service.

Mr Mason was equally as pleased with the march and late morning commemoration.

He credited the strong attendance to the Narrabri community and its continued willingness to rally behind the civic observances.

Growth in attendance was also attributed to strong support from Narrabri’s four schools which all had a large number of students participate in the march and gathered in front of the Maitland Street war memorial to observe the official proceedings.

Tuesday morning’s Anzac Day commemoration at the Narrabri War Memorial drew a large attendance.

School participation in the commemoration also drew applause from the large crowd, with students praised on their excellent delivery at the morning service.

Blue skies and perfect weather set the scene for the day.

Narrabri High School captains Jesse Weekes and Miranda Hamilton delivered the prayer of thanksgiving and the prayer for the nation.

Narrabri West Public School captains Lexie Fernance and Fletcher Whan spoke eloquently in their oration on the theme of Anzac.

For the first time in almost 70 years, a prayer to the King was delivered by sub-branch member Tricia Hadley while the oration was delivered by Pastor Peau Afoa.

Mayor Ron Campbell delivered a prayer to commemorate the fallen before the The Last Post, The Ode and Reveille sounded.

Jacqui Carolan led a beautiful rendition of the New Zealand National Anthem before the large crowd joined in the singing of the Australian National Anthem, led by Elsie Ford.

At the conclusion of the late morning service, Mr Mason thanked the community for its support and praised the large number of military vehicles in the Anzac Day parade.

Earlier in the day, guest-of-honour Royal Australian Navy Captain Chris Waterson delivered the prologue at the late morning service and the oration at the dawn service.

Royal Australian Navy Captain Chris Waterson, Sally Phelps and RSL sub-branch president Gary Mason OAM led the proceedings at the town dawn service on Tuesday.

He was joined by Sally Phelps at the dawn service, along with Mr Mason to form part of the official town dawn service proceedings.

The attendance at Tuesday’s ceremony was a powerful testament to the community’s support for Anzac Day. Speakers at the Narrabri ceremonies, Cr Campbell, Mr Mason and master-of ceremonies and Club Narrabri CEO Paul Gordon applauded the attendance.

Cr Campbell heaped praise on the younger members of the community for supporting the commemorations, particularly the large number of students.

“You will continue these traditions into the future,” Cr Campbell said.

Visitors also travelled from far and wide to pay their respects in Narrabri.

Vietnam veteran Michael Morath and his wife Terri travelled from Thirroul to remember late family members whose names adorn the Maitland Street memorial.

Mr Morath’s father, Fred, and uncles, Jack and Bill, are among the many names listed on the memorial.

Mr Morath a descendant of Theodore Morath, a mayor of Narrabri in the 1880s.

He would usually attend Anzac Day commemorations in Wollongong, however, decided to venture north and honour his family instead.

“What a big day. It’s wonderful that the Narrabri community is supportive of Anzac Day,” he said, referencing the large crowd at the late morning service.