100 years since our ANZACS landed in Gallipoli

Rainbow Beach

The Rainbow Beach RSL Sub Branch is proud and excited to be hosting the 2015 Anzac Day Centenary at our beautiful Rainbow Beach, and look forward to seeing you on Saturday April 25.

Two Anzac Day Centenary Services will be held at Rainbow Beach at the Town Memorial Cenotaph, at the corner of Rainbow Beach Rd and Wide Bay Esplanade.  Everyone is invited and we especially request all visitors and locals to try and attend either, or both, of these special 100 year commemoration ceremonies celebrating our Anzacs.

Assembly for the Dawn Service commences at 4am, at the beach headland Town Memorial Cenotaph. Dawn Service commences at 4.10am. Last Post (bugled live) at 4.28am. Conclusion of Service is approximately 4.45am, followed by Gunfire breakfast at the Surf Club. A gold coin donation is requested and proceeds will go towards our local RSL Sub Branch.

The Town March kicks off at 9.50am from the town centre-block (Community Centre) starting on Rainbow Beach Rd. The marching will proceed to the beach end of Rainbow Beach Rd, at the Town Memorial Cenotaph.

All those wishing to participate in the march, including school children, ex-veterans and relatives of past veterans, and members of other organisations, please be in place on Rainbow Beach Rd adjacent to the Community Centre by 9:50am.

The second service commences at 10am, at the beach front Town Memorial Cenotaph.

The RAAF aerial flypast support is anticipated to be approximately 10.30am over the memorial site.

This second service will conclude at approximately 11.30am. The Surf Club will host a private function for invited members from conclusion of second service until 1pm.

From 1pm everyone is invited to come along for the continuation of celebrations of this special Centenary of Anzac day. Two-up and a special raffle is being held with over 45 great prizes from many local businesses, including Fraser Island accommodation prizes.

Raffle tickets are $2 each, proceeds will support the Surf Life Saving Nippers and Rainbow Beach RSL Sub Branch. The raffle prizes will be drawn at the Surf Club on Anzac Day around 2pm.

Please keep an eye out for Johno selling raffle tickets and Anzac memorial badges in town, often seen at the BP Service Station, set up outside the 7th Wave Surf Shop or inside the Surf Club.

Tin Can Bay

The Tin Can Bay RSL Sub Branch Dawn Service commences at 5.30am followed by a Gunfire Breakfast at 6.30am.

Please form up for the Wreath Laying Ceremony at 8.30am, with the March to Memorial starting at 8.40am. The service commences at 8.55am and there is the Tin Can Bay Citizen’s Commemoration Service at 9.40am.

After the Wreath Laying Ceremony, “Two up” with a sausage sizzle and refreshments will be available at rear of Sub Branch.

Cooloola Cove

Anzac Day 2015 will be more than another day to honour our war heroes. It will also see the commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Gallipoli Landings. Promoted as the most significant commemoration to happen in our lifetime, the Anzac Centenary Committee are inviting communities around Australia to participate in Camp Gallipoli.

This once-in-a-lifetime event is an opportunity for all Australians and New Zealanders to come together on the 100th anniversary of Gallipoli to sleep under the stars, as the original Anzacs did 100 years ago. Camp Gallipoli.

At locations around Australia and New Zealand, families, schools and community groups are invited to join a night of remembrance and mateship that saw the birth of that special Aussie and Kiwi Anzac spirit. Each venue will have spaces set aside for camping using swags, just as the Diggers did, and the night will lead into a very special Dawn Service the next morning on Anzac Day.

Endorsed by the Anzac Centenary Committee, Department of Veterans Affairs, Federal Education Department, RSL and Legacy, the Camp Gallipoli event will be respectful and informative, but most of all, will give participants a chance to share in a moment of history with family and friends.

It will bring together Australians and New Zealanders of varying backgrounds and cultures, from cities, rural and coastal areas, to celebrate the Anzac tradition of equality, loyalty and friendship.

Camp Gallipoli will also encourage families and school communities to come together to honour and ensure the Anzac spirit lives on, by educating and reinforcing the Anzac values to young Australians and New Zealanders.

Coast Guard Tin Can Bay is coordinating the local Camp Gallipoli, which will be held at the Cooloola Cove Veterans and Community Hall on Friday April 24, commencing at 9pm. Sponsored by Cooloola Cove RSL, members of the public, families, friends and school students are invited to join the Coast Guard volunteers for this special 100th Anniversary of Gallipoli.

To participate, simply bring a swag and a light. Bathroom facilities will be available in the hall and Coast Guard will provide a brazier and a BBQ. The campout will be followed by the Dawn Service at the Cooloola Cove Veterans and Community Hall on Anzac Day.

For more information, contact Ian Sutton on 07 5488 0121 or call Coast Guard Tin Can Bay on 5486 4290.

Annual Legacy Lunch, Rainbow Beach

After the mid morning Anzac service, attend lunch at the Sports Club – it’s the Annual Legacy Charity Fundraising, which also includes auctions, raffles, two-up and entertainment.

Invitations to local residents and visitors to Rainbow Beach are open and there are no exclusions, we just ask you to register with us.   Please contact the Sports Club (phone 54863191) so that we may cater appropriately for the day.  Please note that veterans, their wives and war widows are free.  

The auction is a fun event with items generally including holiday resort packages to clothing and food items. There are no limitations on items; if you have an item of value and would like to contribute please contact the local Legacy Co-ordinator Paul McMahon (telephone 0403834634).

Legacy is a charity providing services to Australian families suffering financially and socially after the incapacitation or death of a spouse or parent, during or after their defence force service. They currently care for around 90,000 widows and 1,900 children and disabled dependants throughout Australia.