All the Ex-serviceman and woman who are buried in the Dorrigo cemetery had a sprig of rosemary and an Australian Flag placed on their headstone.

Before the March the assembled crowd was entertained by a new group called the “Never Too Old to Sing”. Some 20 in number, directed by Christine Brayne, with Colleen Fitzgerald on the piano from “Lick the Spoon” and soloist Joy Small, they sang a number of World War 2 songs, and were very much appreciated. Their oldest member is Les Brown, aged 93 and a World War 2 veteran.

The March and Wreath Laying Service at 11.00am again saw a huge crowd in attendance who clapped and cheered the Veteran contingent. The march was lead by a Light Horseman, Peter Vandyke and Arnold Duckett, and members of the North Dorrigo Pony Club.

Members of the Dorrigo RSL Golf Club drove their golf carts carrying the older diggers.

The Girl Guides were in attendance with the Dorrigo Fire Brigade and Rural Fire Brigades and their uniforms lent colour to the occasion. The flag bearers from the Fire Brigade formed the honour guard at the Monument.

The Dorrigo schools were very well represented with over 100 children and staff in attendance. It was wonderful to see so many of the young members of our community there to show their connection with the legend of ANZAC. It is with the continued respect of the young that ANZAC day will live on in the future.

Digger Nevyl Cox conducted the ceremony of commemoration and the number of wreathes laid is the largest ever. Harry Vandyke, a year 10 student at Dorrigo High School read his award winning poem “My Final Day, My Final Hour”. Digger Bob Denner gave the commemorative address and told the stories of some of the names on the Monument; Sgt Francis Kemp, MM who was killed in France aged 22, Cpl Clifton Shephard, killed at Messines aged 20, and Gnr Joseph Williamson, killed at Passchendaele, aged 29, Pte Keith McCall aged 25 and Pte George Phillips aged 26 who died as POWs of the Japanese and LAC Samuel Hall who was killed in an accident in Darwin aged 31.

Cpl Richard Poole, an Afghanistan Veteran. from the Army School Of Military Engineering also read some of the names.

The Guy Fawkes Heritage Horse Association laid a wreath to honour the thousands of Australian Waler horses that served Australia during World War 1 and never returned to Australia.

The Dorrigo High School Captains, Carly Harris and Kauri Greentree, spoke on the relevance of ANZAC day to them as young Australians. Their addresses were well received by the crowd.

All the young marchers were provided with light refreshments at the Dorrigo Bowling Club after the service. The ANZAC day lunch was later served in the RSL Club for 60 Ex-servicemen and Women and their partners and members of the Women’s’ Auxiliary.

Like any event in our community a day like this does not happen without the support of a large number of other people and organisations. The Dorrigo RSL sub Branch wishes to sincerely thank the following for their support and help; Bellingen Shire Council and the Dorrigo Works Depot Staff, the Dorrigo Memorial RSL Club, Dorrigo Fire Brigade, Dorrigo State Emergency Service, New South Wales Police, Dorrigo RSL Golf Club, Dorrigo Garden Club, Graham Fitzgerald, Dennis Atkins, Barbara Weaver, Dorrigo ANZAC Day Singers, Rev Vivian Hoskins, the Dorrigo Gazette and all those who attended our commemorations and supported the Dorrigo RSL Sub Branch Women’s Auxiliary street stall and raffles. The ANZAC Day Raffle was won by Brett Keogh with ticket red 69B,

Thank you Dorrigo, you make us proud to be a part of this community.