South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff with guest speaker Flight Lieutenant Glenn Samuel and Kingaroy-Memerambi RSL Sub-Branch president Don Davey

April 25, 2024

Attendees at Kingaroy’s Anzac Day commemoration were reminded of the importance of the “Anzac spirit” and the sad fact that one day it may be called upon again.

Flight Lieutenant Glenn Samuel was the guest speaker at the morning commemoration service which also included a reading of the Roll of Honour, the laying of wreaths and several hymns.

The service followed a march down Kingaroy and Haly streets by veterans, their families, community groups and schoolchildren.

After a long career in the defence force, Flt Lt Samuel is now a training officer at the Defence Force School of Signals at Cabarlah.

He said Anzac Day was not just a date of some remote campaign … it was a spirit.

“It is a time to reflect on the past generations of Australians who during hardship displayed courage, discipline, self-reliance, self-sacrifice, resourcefulness and friendship,” he said.

“Even if the numbers of ex-servicemen and women grow smaller, the spirit of Anzac Day which we inherited from the battlefields long ago lives on because it is a reflection of the very heart of our nation.”

Flt Lt Samuel said Anzac Day reminded Australians that wars are to be avoided.

“But when necessary, we must stand up for our values,” he said.

“It requires us to reflect on the past with pride but also to look ahead and build on the achievements of our predecessors by displaying the characteristics of the Anzac spirit  …

“As the world today navigates troublesome and challenging times, Australia may once again find itself in harm’s way. And if those undesirable circumstances arise, there is no doubt the Anzac spirit will once again be called upon.

“Lest we forget.”

The catafalque party came from the Defence Force School of Signals at Borneo Barracks, Cabarlah
The Kingaroy State High School choir sang the Australian National Anthem and two hymns
The flags they carried at the head of the parade were presented to students Divan Boonzaaier (St John’s Lutheran School), Harry Jeffs (St Mary’s Catholic College) and Michael Robinson (Kingaroy State High School) 
Matt Phillips, from Kingaroy State High School, played the Last Post and Reveille

Kingaroy-Memerambi RSL Sub-Branch president Don Davey read The Ode

Eri Carey sang the National Anthem of New Zealand in Maori and English
Barry Krosch, from the Kingaroy-Memerambi RSL Sub-Branch, with his former QPS Special Branch colleague – and fellow Vietnam veteran – Alan Anderson, from Brisbane … the pair bore flags at the head of the parade
A large crowd gathered in Kingaroy’s Memorial Park for the morning commemoration service

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More than 300 people turned up at Memorial Park at 4:28am for the Dawn Service (Photo: Denise Keelan Photography)

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Kingaroy Parade

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Kingaroy Gallery


 

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