The Centenary of the landing of Anzac forces at Gallipoli commemorated in Wingham was the largest attended Anzac Day service in living memory.

At the Dawn Service the numbers were huge with twice as many at the main Anzac service later in the morning.

As previously reported the kick off was at the football on April 18, then the local school visits and services leading up to Anzac Day itself.

On Friday April 14 a twilight service for the fallen was conducted at the Wingham Cemetery and attended by about 70 who heard the 39 fallen of WW1 called by RSL members Del Heuke and vice president John O'Keeffe There was a very informative address by Allen Valentine, Bugler was John Thompson with the ODE was given by GTCC Cr David West.

The huge numbers at the Dawn Service listened to the service conducted by Master of Ceremonies Terry Gould followed by an address by Mathew Niksic, Wingham High School captain;

RSL Chaplain Darrel MacKeough and Rev Michael Deal; ODE by Eric Richardson and the wonderful bugle sound of Adrian Veale (more about Adrian in the future).

The Anzac march and Anzac day service

If I said the crowd was huge at the Dawn Service! Well it was twice as HUGE for this one.

The march itself had the largest turnout in memory, with the transport provided by Wingham Taxis, Greenaways Taxis, the Street Reach bus, and those old favourites WWII jeeps.

The march consisted of returned and service, national service groups, Red Cross, Scouts, Wingham High School, St Josephs, Wingham Brush Public School, Wingham Public School, Taree Christian College and Wingham Pre School students.

Stealing the start of the March was "Murphy" the Donkey and his attendants - 'nurses' Jenny Godbolt and Jenny Webster and Simpson himself was Jakab Osmond. They re-enacted "Simpson and his Donkey from Gallipoli, and to see them leading out first with the rest led by the wonderful Wingham Pipes and Drums Band made this parade one to remember.

Then to arrive at the Wingham Memorial Town Hall to a sea of faces and the wonderful display of the sea of poppies at the Cenotaph, made by some of our members combined to make a wonderful sight for us all.

I don't know what was the most photographed the poppies or Murphy the Donkey supplied by Jenny Godbolt of Krambach.

MC Terry Gould introduced our chaplains Darrel McKeough, Michael Deal and Brian Ford. The Anzac commemoration address was given by student Maitlan Brown and Jake Irvine in the presence of Maitlan's grandmother Wingham RSL vice president Marie Hatchwell. Then there was the delight of listening to the Kantable choir with Richard Crook.

Hymns and the National anthems of New Zealand and of course Australia, the ODE and a brief address by Eric Richardson OAM followed and then the Last Post and Rouse again sounded by the incredible Adrian Veale. It was all finished off with the diggers lunch at the Wingham Memorial Services Club. Well done all.

To observe this most wonderful day was a credit not only to the organisers but to the entire community. Special mentions to the CTCC staff, all the students and staff of all the schools involved, the Manning Historical Society Board of Directors, management and staff of the Wingham and Districts Services Club, the Wonderful Shop front displays throughout town and the Wingham Chronicle for their interest and help.

I'm sure I have missed some but a big thank you to the hard working members of the Wingham Sub Branch and Women's Auxiliary.

My personal "Thank you" is to the young people of the district thank you for your efforts, I know our future and country are in very good hands.

My final well done is to the Wingham Rugby League Club for their initiative to ask for a Anzac service at their game on April 18. I was proud to conduct this service and look forward to future involvement, the club showed great leadership to not only their members but to the community, the wonderful respect shown to the veterans in attendance will not be forgotten.

"Lest We Forget"

Ron Irwin

President Wingham

RSL Sub Branch