April 28, 2025
Crowds gathered in towns and villages across the South Burnett on Friday to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli and the men and women who have served Australia in so many conflicts since 1915.
One of the largest gatherings occurred in Kingaroy’s Memorial Park where crowds braved uncertain weather to turn out in force for the dawn service and then the morning parade and commemoration at the rotunda.
Kingaroy-Memerambi RSL Sub-Branch president Don Davey reminded the crowd that it was an honour to be able to gather in peace to honour those who had paid the ultimate sacrifice, not only at Gallipoli but during each and every conflict since then or later from their injuries.
“We owe an honour to each and every one of the Australians who have carried that flag for us up until today,” he said.
Guest speaker at the Kingaroy morning commemoration was RAAF Squadron Leader Jayeshkumar Prajapati, who is based at Amberley.
Squadron Leader Prajapati pointed out that as well as the 110th anniversary of Gallipoli, this year was also:
- The 80th anniversary of the end of World War II,
- The 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War,
- The 35th anniversary of the start of Gulf War I,
- The 75th anniversary of the start of the Korean War, and
- The 25th anniversary of the end of Interfet (the Australian peace-keeping force in East Timor)
Anzac Day was also a very special day for Taabinga State School student Temperance Poppy Cox, who turned 10.
Temperance, whose middle name honours her April 25 birthday, was presented with an Australian flag by Kingaroy-Memerambi RSL Sub-Branch Secretary Lieutenant Commander Steven Reynolds CSM RAN (r’td).
South Burnett residents may also have noticed a low-flying aircraft which buzzed several local towns.
An RAAF Spartan conducted a flyover of Bell, Kumbia and Kingaroy, although about 13 minutes later than originally advised.
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More Photos From Kingaroy
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Elsewhere around the region …
Blackbutt
Blackbutt RSL Sub-Branch hosted a dawn service at 4:28am at the Memorial at the corner of Hart and Coulson streets, followed by a gunfire breakfast. Later in the morning, traffic on the D’Aguilar Highway was diverted while former Defence Force personnel and local residents marched to the Memorial for a wreath-laying service. In the afternoon, the local Hotel Radnor hosted two-up.
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Boondooma
Historic Boondooma Homestead, north of Proston. incorporates an Anzac Day commemoration every year into its annual Spirit of the Bush festival. The hundreds of campers in the grounds always turn out in droves for the commemoration, which includes a parade, prayers, music and a wreath-laying ceremony. A commemorative wall in the homestead’s grounds commemorates the service of former local residents.
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Cherbourg
Cherbourg’s annual Anzac Day commemoration acknowledged the town’s proud history of military service. A parade was held down Barambah Avenue before a commemoration service was held at the Memorial.
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Kumbia
Kumbia Hall was packed for the commemoration service which followed a march down Bell Street led by Kumbia Pony Club members. School children, former Defence Force personnel, local residents and emergency services representatives also took part in the parade. Earlier in the morning, a dawn service was held at the Memorial outside the hall.
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Maidenwell
Students from Tanduringie State School joined local residents in a commemoration at the town’s monument in Pool Street. Maidenwell QCWA members also hosted a morning tea in the nearby hall.
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Murgon
A large crowd turned out for Murgon’s Anzac Day commemorations which included a dawn service and the traditional volley of shots followed by a parade and march later in the morning. Murgon’s Anzac Day parade always features an array of former military vehicles as well as an acknowledgement of the often-forgotten service of Australian nurses overseas during World War I.
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Nanango
There’s always a large turnout to Nanango’s Anzac Day commemorations which includes a dawn service, a visit to Nanango Cemetery to place flags on war service graves, a morning march down Drayton Street and a commemoration service at the Memorial.
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Proston
A dawn service was held at 5:30am outside the Proston RSL Rooms, with the crowd gathering near the Memorial in Collingwood Street.
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Wondai
Crowd numbers at Wondai’s dawn service and morning commemoration were swelled by visitors to town for the Weekend At Wondai cycling event who were camping at the nearby sportsgrounds. There was a strong turnout for both the dawn service and the later mid-morning parade.
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Wooroolin
Traffic was paused on the Bunya Highway for a few minutes to allow the traditional Anzac Parade down to the Wooroolin Memorial Hall. A commemoration service was then held in the hall with guest speaker Noel Selway who spoke about local women who enlisted during World War II.
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Yarraman
A dawn service was held in Memorial Park, beside the D’Aguilar Highway, followed by a community breakfast in Yarraman Hall. Later in the morning, marchers walked down the hill to the Yarraman Memorial where a wreath-laying service was held.
