Rochester RSL Sub-Branch will conduct a series of public commemorative activities, including in Nanneella and Lockington, to mark Anzac Day in 2023.
Planned functions are:
• dusk service at Nanneella, 5.45pm for a 6pm start. Nanneella Primary School, Nanneella-Timmering Heritage Group and Campaspe Shire representatives will be laying wreaths.
• Dawn service at Rochester at 5.45am for a 6am start.
• Gunfire breakfast at Rochester at 6.30am, following the dawn service. Lions club caravan for catering. Cost is a $5 donation.
• Lockington commemorative march and service starting at Lions Apex Park playground car park on Pannoo Rd at 8.30am for a 9am start. School children, veterans and RSL members and comunity groups will take part. The march will end at the community hall. Wreaths will be laid.
• Rochester commemorative march and service. Assemble at 10.30am opposite the Mackay St shire hall and extending south. The march will start at 10.45am and finish with a service at the memorial gardens at the corner of Mary and VIctoria streets.
Vintage cars will carry veterans in the march, while the Golden City Pipe Band will provide accompanying music. Cubs, Scouts and Venturers will also be involved, along with school and community groups, emergency service volunteers and church representatives.
The march will turn left into Gillies St and continue over the railway line before turning into Victoria St.
• Two-up at Rochester Hotel from 1pm until 4pm, organised by Brett Kyne.
RSL president Cam Lovering said Rochester RSL Sub-Branch planned to commemorate the service of all current and former servicemen and women of his majesty’s armed forces, from Australia and New Zealand, and their allies.
The Monday, April 24 service at Nanneella starts at 5.45pm.
The service will be centred on the memorial stone and flagpole adjacent to the main entrance to the hall.
The RSL has engaged a piper and bugler for the service at the hall and both wreaths and floral tributes will be laid during the service.
There will be no march on the road.
ANZAC DAY SCHEDULE
Monday, April 24
NANNEELLA
Dusk service at Soldiers Memorial Hall, Echuca-Nanneella Rd, Nanneella, at 5.45pm for a 6pm start.
Tuesday, April 25
ROCHESTER
Dawn service at Rochester Cemetery on Corop Rd at 5.45am for a 6am start.
A gunfire breakfast will immediately follow the dawn service at the cemetery at 6.30am. The Lions club caravan will be on site for catering, with a $5 donation for breakfast.
Rochester commemorative march and service will assemble at 10.30am opposite the shire hall in Mackay St and will extend south. The march will start at 10.45am and continue to the RSL headquarters on the corner of Mary and Victoria streets.
LOCKINGTON
Lockington commemorative march and service is at 8.30am for a 9am start at the Lions Apex Park playground car park on Pannoo Rd.
Rochester’s dawn ceremony will be at the Corop Road cemetery, centred at the memorial stone and flag pole located adjacent to the work shed and between Lawn One and Two sections of the cemetery.
It will start at 6am, with attendees asked for form up at 5.45am.
Only one wreath will be laid during the service, by the Rochester RSL. Private individuals may lay floral tributes after the service.
A lantern will illuminate the entry point to the cemetary on the rock wall, provided by Rochester SES.
Immediately following the service’s completion, at 6.30am, breakfast will be served - comprising a hot beverage, egg and bacon. There is a $5 donation for each person for breakfast.
At Lockington the Anzac Day march will commence at 8.45am, participants asked to assemble at the Lions Apex Park playground car park on Pannoo Road.
Involved in the march will be flag bearers, veterans and RSL members, school children, family representatives of deceased members and community groups.
The march will go east along Pannoo Road to cross Lockington Road and then east along Singer Road before turning into Hopetoun Road, right into Barton Street and then into Shakespeare Court. It will end at the community hall.
Rochester’s Anzac Day march will assemble opposite the Mackay Stret shire hall at 10.30am and start at 10.45am. It will end at 11am when guest speakers will address the service and wreaths will be laid.
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