Months of planning by the local Returned and Services League (RSL) sub-branch saw ANZAC Day commemorated in three separate and very different services in Narromine on April 25.

Dawn service

The traditional Dawn Service at the Narromine Cenotaph was well attended as the first rays of light flickered from the east.

People lined the streets surrounding the monument as well as Tom Perry Park for the short service.

Five former service personnel stood on parade before the Cenotaph as RSL sub-branch president, David Taylor, reflected on the legacy of those who fought during the Gallipoli campaign in 1915.

“The sons and daughters of ANZACs came forward without question, accepted gladly and discharged fully their responsibilities during World War II, Korea, Malaya, Borneo, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, and in peacekeeping or peace-making operations for other conflicts,” he said.

“We think of every man, woman and child who, in those crucial years, died so the lights of freedom and humanity might continue to shine.

“We nurture, too, the obligation of showing gratitude for the peace we enjoy and the responsibility of ensuring that the freedom and liberty so costly won is not lost by our own indifference,” Mr Taylor said.

“Let us mourn with, but let us also remember with equal pride, those who served and still live.”

Veterans Neil, Ian, Charlie, Viktor and Diane at the Narromine Dawn Service.

The RSL sub-branch laid wreaths on the steps of the Cenotaph and at the Wall of Remembrance in Tom Perry Park. After the service, a large crowd gathered at the Narromine United Services Memorial Club (USMC) for the traditional Gunfire Breakfast that follows the Dawn Service at venues across Australia.

War cemetery service

The second commemorative service took place at the Narromine war cemetery at 9.30am.

The event commenced with a fly past by members of the Narromine Aero Club, Brad Naylor and Lloyd Galliway, piloting vintage aircraft through the skies overhead.

“Both these aircraft are genuine warbirds, having seen service in [World War II],” the club declared on social media.

Vintage planes from the Narromine Aero Club fly past the Narromine War Cemetery

Students from the Narromine Christian College formed a wreath-laying party and laid wreaths against each of the 12 headstones. David Taylor also laid a wreath against the cross behind the war graves on behalf of the RSL sub-branch.

Guest speaker Arthur Woollams, representing the Combined Churches of Narromine, relayed a personal story about the recent discovery of the wreck of the MV Montevideo Maru.

The Japanese auxiliary vessel was torpedoed by the US Navy and sank in waters off the coast of The Philippines on July 1, 1942, taking with it 1053 lives.

More than 800 of those were Australian Prisoners of War (POWs) and 208 were civilian prisoners.

Almost 90 Japanese servicemen also went down with the ship.

The wreath-laying party from Narromine Christian School (left) reflects as Arthur Woollams (centre) speaks at the Narromine War Cemetery, with RSL sub-branch president David Taylor (right).

Mr Woollams’ maternal uncle, Arthur James Hogan, was one of the Australian POWs on board the fateful ship, which remains Australia’s worst maritime disaster.

“My uncle Arthur was a commando serving in Rabaul on the island of New Britain, east of Papua New Guinea.

“Like a lot of young men back then, they lied about their age so they could head off on what they thought was a great adventure. How sad,” Mr Woollams said.

Arthur Hogan was just 21 years old when he died, although records state he was 23.

Veterans' march and 11am service

Just before 11am, hundreds of people lined Dandaloo Street to see another much-loved tradition, the march of veterans and schoolchildren from the USMC to the Cenotaph. They were led on their journey by the impressive Dubbo and District Pipe Band, to the great appreciation of the crowd.

The traditional ANZAC Day march along Dandaloo Street, Narromine.

The traditional 11am commemorative service featured some new and exciting elements this year. Students from the four schools in Narromine delivered short essays reflecting on ANZAC Day. From the symbolism of the poppy flower, to diary extracts from the fallen, each speech was moving and very different.

Narromine Public School student Ally Gill told the crowd about several of her relatives who have served in the defence forces and in past conflicts, and what this means to her.

“I have attended the Dawn Service since I was one month old, except for the covid period,” she said, very proud of the Gill family tradition supporting those who have served.

Ally also pointed out the ANZAC biscuit was one of the good things to come out of World War I.

“It was of high nutritional value and would not perish in the time it took to be delivered to the front lines,” she said of the Australian culinary invention. “I think they’re pretty yum!”

The Dubbo and District Pipe Band in action at the Cenotaph.

Narromine Christian College student Innie Jurd read diary extracts about his relative Paddy Smith, who left a wife, Mary, and infant son Eddie behind on the family farm when he died at Gallipoli in 1915. 

“Eddie grew up to be a mechanic and had three children and nine grandchildren. I am one of them,” Innie said, then reading a letter that Mary Smith received from her husband after his death.

“I can’t help but curse this war for taking so much time from the three of us,” his relative Paddy Smith wrote.

Almost 40 community groups, services and schools were invited forward for the wreath-laying. The service also included the pipe band playing The Lament, the Narromine Singers performing The Hymn and the national anthem, and a prayer from local

Seventh Day Adventist pastor Tharren Hutchinson.

Schoolchildren reflect on ANZAC Day at the 11am service.

After the service, local resident Carol Baldwinson told The Western Plains App that she really enjoyed seeing the children involved.

"I have a son still serving and he will be very interested in that," she said.

Narromine Aviation Museum chair Peter Keirath OAM also enjoyed the 11am service.

"I've never seen school children involved like that before. It's wonderful," he said.

RSL sub-branch president David Taylor paid tribute to everyone who assisted with making the three ANZAC Day commemorations possible, and keeping the ANZAC memory in hearts and minds for another year.

The sub-branch has some other interesting commemorative activity coming up this year – watch this space!

Lest we forget.

Almost 40 groups were invited to lay wreaths at the 11am service.