SACRIFICE REMEMBERED: Strong showings at Anzac Day commemorations across the shire

Anzac Day was marked with reverence across the Narrabri Shire, as the community came together to honour the memory of those who served and those who paid the supreme sacrifice in war.

Across the region, communities upheld the national tradition of reflection and respect, with a large contingent of students and young families joining the solemn ceremonies.

Organisers, speakers, and attendees at Anzac Day events throughout the shire commended the growing involvement of youth—a heartening and increasingly prominent aspect of the day’s observance.

Large contingents of school students again participated in the traditional Narrabri march through the CBD to the town war memorial and filled the area in front of the lectern for the poignant orations and prayers.

The Narrabri shire services drew huge attendances at the two dawn services and later in the morning at the town ceremony.

In keeping with the trend of recent years, the numbers reaffirmed that the significance of Anzac Day is remembered across generations of families throughout the district.

The shire’s principal service at Narrabri RSL War Memorial on Friday again drew a huge attendance with solemn participants, including serving and former serving personnel, their family members, friends and many visitors to the shire.

Community and sporting organisations, emergency services, school students and individuals laid wreaths at the memorial again reflecting the depth of community participation across the shire.

This year, sub-branch senior vice president Graham Thomas presided over the town dawn service while Sally Phelps led the earlier Narrabri West service at 5am.

Club Narrabri chief executive Paul Gordon was once again master-of-ceremonies of the late-morning commemoration, which proceeded smoothly from beginning to end.

The ceremonies were held under blue skies, prompting Mr Gordon to note that the town’s Anzac services had never been rained out in his decades of involvement.

Prayers and addresses, well researched and confidently presented, were delivered by students as well as RSL and civic officials.

The prayers and readings were accompanied by the Narrabri Shire Band for the 11am service.

The New Zealand and Australian national anthems were sung by Jacqui Carolan while Katherine Crosara sounded the Last Post.

Senior members of the returned services community were driven to the memorial aboard restored ex-military vehicles from the Namoi Valley Antique Vehicle Club. A fly past of Namoi Aero Club aircraft was also conducted.

A feature of the Narrabri service was the mounting of a ‘catafalque party’ at the memorial comprising local Army Cadets Leondre Smith, Rodney Gibbs-Eulo and Callum Lawler.