Ceremonies to be held across the region

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By Tania Phillips

 For the first time this year cenotaphs across

the Southern Downs will see full public remembrance services when people gather – in a

Covid safe way – to remember those who made

the ultimate sacrifice during World War One.

Remembrance Day – Poppy Day – the 11

November, the day of the armistices following

the bloody conflict of “the War to end all wars”

For a hundred years now Australian’s have

been marking this day, remembering – Lest We

Forget.

And while Covid led to a very different Anzac Day in 2020, RSL Sub Branches and military groups across the Southern Downs and

Granite Belt are hoping for something much

closer to the usual service for Remembrance

Day (with Covid protocols in place of course.

“We think we will be able to hold the remembrance day service the same as we normally hold it,” Warwick RSL sub-branch President John Skinner said.

“We’re introducing something new this year

in that we’ve invited all the High Schools, including Scot’s College and the Cadets to take

turn about to provide speakers for Remembrance day rather than us looking for War Veterans or some other high-profile people to give

the address. This is a move towards involving

younger people and this year hopefully it will

be someone from Warwick State High.

“This will become a permanent thing for

remembrance day, Anzac Day will still stay as

our military personal. The past seven or eight

years we’ve managed to bring people from

Canberra with ranks as high as a Major General. But for remembrance day we are going to

ask the high schools for speakers.”

Mr Skinner said the Sub Branch wanted to

get younger people involved.

“We’ve had so many good speakers from

the High Schools at the Dawn Service for a

number of years we thought it’s time brought

them into the Remembrance Day services –

give them a bit more to do,” he said.

“We’re hoping it will interest other high

school kids to come along and hear their own

people speak.”

The Warwick Service is timed to start at

10.40pm at the new dais – with two undercover

marquees and social distancing.

Martin Corbett President of the Stanthorpe

RSL Sub Branch said they would hold two services this year.

“We will be having one in Stanthorpe of

course and we are also going down to Texas to

do one down there,” he said.

“Texas have a sub-branch that is connected

to us. Due to their lack of numbers they decided to join our sub-branch about four years

ago and it was decided this year, especially

with the Covid 19, I’m going down with four

other people and we’re going to run the Texas

memorial day at the same time as Stanthorpe.”

He said the it was nice to get back together.

“Anzac we had the light up the streets – that

was very successful,” Mr Corbett said.

“Veterans day in August we were disappointed in the lack of numbers because of the

restrictions, the restrictions have now been

eased. My deputy president will be running

the whole thing in Stanthorpe – we have our

normal cannon being fired off at 11am. We’ve

got people to play the last post – it’s a normal

ceremony but we are still going to follow the

Covid rules – we will have hand sanitizers there

– people have to sign in and leave contact

numbers in case of contract tracing.”

Both services will start at the tradition

11am.

Meanwhile the Naval Association of Australia Stanthorpe division will hold their own

ceremony at the Navy remembrance wall following the main one at Stanthorpe on 11 November according to president Norm Gale.

“On the 30 October we’re setting up a window display at the big shop that use to be a newsagency between Target and the Reject shop in Stanthorpe,” Norm said.

“The agent has given us permission to take it over the shop from 28 October to 10 November. We’re going to have a window display of military memorabilia. As well as setting up a display we will be putting posters on the window and we’re putting up tables outside with all the stock on it.”