Members of the Mount Gambier community, both young and old, will commemorate Remembrance Day this year with activities by the Mount Gambier Community RSL.
Yesterday, Mount Gambier Community RSL president Bob Sandow gave a talk about Remembrance Day and showed some war memorabilia to the residents of Boandik East Terrace.
Meanwhile, McDonald Park Primary School will receive a visit from members of the Mount Gambier Community RSL today for the 20th year.
The ceremony will include a wreath presentation, The Last Post, a minute of silence, a recitation of Lest We Forget and The Ode and the National Anthem.
Students will lay homemade wreaths around the school’s Lone Pine tree before ambassadors and staff join the RSL guests for morning tea and Anzac biscuits in the kitchen.
Mr Sandow said the Mount Gambier Community RSL members always look forward to continuing the tradition at McDonald Park Primary School.
“It means we can pass on the values and traditions of what their grandparents got up to,” he said.
“What their grandparents did years ago has given us the conditions to enjoy what we enjoy today.
“We only want one of those kids to stand up and in 10 year’s time be president of the RSL.”
Tomorrow night, the 48 Army Cadet Unit will have a dine in night at the Mount Gambier Community RSL.
The official Mount Gambier Remembrance Day ceremony will be held on Monday at 10am at the Vansittart Park Soldiers Memorial, conducted by Pastor Dave Sigley.
Mount Gambier Mayor Lynette Martin OAM will deliver the community address and 612 Squadron Mount Gambier Air Force Cadet Christopher Mossford-MacGregor will play the bugle for The Last Post.
The Ode will be recited by Graeme Roulstone, who along with his late wife Shirley looked after the local late World War II veterans for numerous years.
The RSL Blue Lake Highland Pipe Band will perform a rendition of Amazing Grace and the National Anthem will be recited.
Wreaths will be laid by dignitaries, local service organisations, veterans and members of the local community to pay their respects.
In attendance will be Limestone Coast Local Service Area Commander Superintendent Cheryl Brown APM and representatives for Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell and Ben Hood MLC.
The Mount Gambier Fire Brigade will sound the siren to commence the one-minute silence at 11am.
The Blue Lake city will receive a flyover by the Royal Australian Air Force over Commercial Street to commemorate the occasion at 12.20pm.
Following the flyover, the Tony Casadio award will be presented at Tenison Woods College to a chosen male student who displays the values of the late Mr Casadio.
The RSL Mount Gambier Women’s Auxiliary will host lunch at the Mount Gambier and Community RSL for a small fee after the ceremony.
