GOULBURN Mulwaree Council has voted to give the local RSL Sub Branch $50,000 to assist with planning for Anzac Day and Remembrance Day services in 2018.
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In the initial letter to the council requesting the funding, Goulburn RSL Sub-Branch secretary Mal Ritchie said in 2018 the branch was proposing to stage a similar event to that held in 2015, which marked the centenary of the Anzac landings.
The letter said this event would commemorate the end of WWI and that it would happen on Anzac Day, 2018.
“This year being the 100th anniversary of the end of WWI will obviously be a bigger than the usual commemoration, and we certainly appreciate assistance towards the costs,” Mr Ritchie wrote.
“We are beginning to plan for 2018 and this would be a load off our back regarding funding,” the letter said.
At Tuesday night’s meeting, the council voted to allocate the $50,000 in the 2017/18 budget to assist with these commemorations.
At the meeting, Goulburn Muwlaree general manager Warwick Bennett confirmed the expenditure would assist to televise the 2018 Dawn Service into Belmore Park.
On Thursday, Goulburn RSL Sub-Branch president Gordon Wade thanked the council for giving the RSL Sub Branch the funding.
“The plan is to hold fitting events to commemorate the centenary of the ending of WWI in 2018,” Mr Wade said.
“We have started planning it, but there is a fair bit to do so, this grant will be very helpful to us to stage the event.
“Noting that 2018 is the centenary of the cessation of WWI, we intend to duplicate the service that was held on Anzac Day in 2015, whereby the Dawn Service on Rocky Hill will be transmitted onto a large screen in Belmore Park.
“We are very appreciative for council’s contribution to assist with this. We hope this money will also assist us with the Remembrance Day service, which will also be a significant event that will be held on Rocky Hill in 2018.”
In 2015, the centenary of Anzac Day drew massive crowds into Belmore Park and onto Rocky Hill for the Dawn Service. It was the first time that the service had been televised to the park. There was also a moving sunset service on Rocky Hill.