The Anzac spirit was alive and well in Moree on Wednesday as more than a thousand people lined Balo Street to wave on Moree’s service men and women.
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The Moree community flocked to the main street to watch on as diggers, emergency services personnel, community groups, school children and the Moree town and pipe bands marched down Balo Street to Moree Memorial Hall where between about 1200 people gathered for the main service.
Moree RSL sub-branch senior vice president Roger Butler OAM said attendance was on par with last year, which was estimated to attract record crowds.
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“It’s good considering it’s school holidays this year,” Mr Butler OAM said.
“We also had some Farrer students attend today.”
Mr Butler OAM said he was impressed by the attendance of so many school children, who were all very well behaved.
A particular highlight was the reciting of the poem, “I Am?”, by Angus Reardon and Albert Osborn.
This year’s special guest was Commodore Colin Dagg who said Anzac Day is a day to remember and thank our service men and women for their sacrifice.
“Today we come together, not to celebrate or glorify war or our military traditions, but to remember those who have fought and sacrificed for our country,” he said.
“Anzac Day reminds us all of the cost to secure freedoms that we can often take for granted. And it was a terrible cost; over 100,000 Australians gave their last full measure and almost 350,000 have lived on with the scars of battle.
“It is a day of great sadness, and yet, one of justifiable pride. Pride in men and women who displayed great courage, discipline and self-sacrifice in choosing a life of service to their country, their family and their friends.
“Today we thank them for their sacrifice and remember that it was not in vain.”
Commodore Dagg said close to 350 young men from Moree enlisted in World War I.
“From Abrahams to Woods’, hundreds of families contributed their sons, brothers, husbands, to Australia’s war effort, to defend our freedom, to support our allies and to fight and preserve our way of life,” he said.
“Those young people, born in Moree, believed in principles of respect, tolerance, freedom and dignity were worth defending. Today we thank them and those who continue to serve and their families, our great nation and those who may in future continue this tradition. Lest we forget.”
The names of the Moree diggers who died in 1918 during World War I were read out by Moree Public School captain Marni Ryan and St Philomena’s captain Zoe Ross, while Moree Scouts and Girl Guides placed crosses in the sand box honouring those diggers.
Moree and District Band and Moree Community Choir performed the hymns and anthems, while Moree Caledonian Pipes and Drums and the bugler also performed throughout the service.
At the conclusion of the service, everyone enjoyed Anzac biscuits, made by Moree Girl Guides and Brownies, in the hall.
Did you attend an Anzac Day service in the Moree Plains district? We would love to see your photos or videos. Send your footage to moreechampion@fairfaxmedia.com.au.