Forbes will be doing all it can to make sure the ANZAC spirit is alive on Monday, with a full day’s worth of events taking place on Monday. Two marches will take place on the day, with each one starting at the Forbes Services Memorial Club and finishing at the Cenotaph in Victoria Park.
The first march will take place just prior to the dawn service at 5.20am, while the second one will start at 10.15am before the mid morning service. Each service will include a wreath laying ceremony, hymns, and speeches from Forbes Mayor Phyllis Miller, the Salvation Army, local schools, and Forbes RSL subbranch President Michael Walker, amongst others.
The Reveille and Last Post tunes will also be played at the services. Breakfast will be available after the dawn service at the Services Club, while a luncheon
will be held at the Services Club after the morning service. ‘Two Up’ will start in the Services Club auditorium from 2.30pm, and the day will end with the lowering of the flag at the Cenotaph at 5pm.
Forbes RSL sub-branch Secretary Trevor Currey said the day would be a big one. “I’ve been organising ANZAC Day here in Forbes for the last 14 years, and I can tell you, ANZAC Day really starts in January,” he said with a laugh. “It’s always a great day in Forbes, and an opportunity for us to reflect on the sacrifices our service men and women have made for us.”
Most members of the local RSL are expected to march. Of the 75 members, 16 are World War II veterans, while the rest are made up of Korean, Vietnam, Gulf, Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.