Unite safely to honour veterans this Anzac Day
19 April 2021
The community of Ipswich is being encouraged to unite safely and honour and thank our nation’s veterans this Anzac Day.
Community commemorations are planned across the city and RSL Queensland is again encouraging people to Light Up the Dawn from their driveways after the initiative’s success last year.
Ipswich RSL Sub Branch president Rob Wadley urged people to commemorate our veterans in a way that worked for them.
“The choice is yours – commemorate our veterans with a traditional service at your local cenotaph or honour them from home at 6am,” Mr Wadley said.
“What’s important is that we each take a moment to pause and reflect on and honour the sacrifices that veterans past and present have made so that we may enjoy the freedoms and way of life we do.”
Ipswich City Council has been working closely with local organising committees to help them navigate State Government-mandated COVID-19 Safe Event requirements and support the delivery of local commemorative services.
“The support we and other organising committees have received from council in the lead-up to this year’s commemorative activities has been invaluable,” Mr Wadley said.
There are changes to the main Ipswich march this year, with the Ipswich RSL Sub Branch deciding on a shorter route to accommodate aging veterans.
This year’s march will step off at 10.45am from Brisbane Street before turning left into Ellenborough Street, left into Darling Street East, right into West Street and then left into Mary Street before ending at Timothy Moloney Park opposite St Mary’s Church.
There will not be a service at the conclusion of the march. Services will be held at 4.27am and 8.30am at the RSL Memorial Gardens on the corner of Limestone and Nicholas streets.
“These changes will help us to better accommodate our aging veterans and meet COVID-19 Safe Event requirements while still providing an important opportunity for the community to honour our veterans,” Mr Wadley said.
Mayor Teresa Harding said Ipswich had a deep connection to the men and women who have served, and continue to serve, our nation.
“We are a proud garrison town and home to the Air Force’s largest base in RAAF Base Amberley,” Mayor Harding said.
“Service is about sacrifice and that sacrifice has touched many families throughout our community across generations.
“This Anzac Day, I encourage Ipswich residents to commemorate those who have served the nation, including the men and women who paid the ultimate price to protect our way of life.”
People attending community commemorative services are urged to help protect our veterans, uniformed-personnel and the community by following Queensland Health advice and adhering to the following COVID-19 guidelines:
- Maintain physical distancing of at least 1.5m between family or social groups.
- Wear masks if vulnerable or unable to physically distance.
- Use hand sanitiser provided.
- Please do not attend an event if you are unwell or if you have been in close contact with a person who is positive for COVID-19.
A complete listing of community commemorative services is available at council’s website here: https://www.ipswich.qld.gov.au/explore/whats-on/anzac-day