Spirit of the Anzacs lives on in Ballina march
The spirit of the Anzacs is alive and well, judging by the response to this morning’s Anzac Day march in Ballina.
Thousands of adults and children gathered along River Street from the Old Post Office to the RSL Club as returned servicemen and women, service groups and children marched to honour the Anzacs.
There was constant applause and plenty of flag-waving as service personnel from the World War II, Korea and Vietnam conflicts marched, along with current serving personnel.
A large crowd was on hand at the commemorative service at the Grant Street Memorial, where Barry Nash gave the call “Attention: Stand at ease” before RSL sub-branch president Mac McCallum gave the prologue.
Ballina Primary School Band and the Ballina Women’s Christian Choir sang the hymn, The Recessional, followed by a Prayer of Thanksgiving by president of the Ballina RAAF Association Lofty Swetnam.
Norm Mulholland, president of the Korea South East Asia Vietnam Veterans Association, gave the Prayer for the Queen, and Ballina Naval Association president Merv Stevens gave the Prayer for the Nation.
Ballina High School captain Paris Astill-Torchia gave a moving Commemoration Address before bugler Mal Bateman and Flag Marshall Trevor Bence gave The Last Post.
Fine, warm weather greeted the onlookers, who gave a similar response to the tradition of Anzac Day.
It was especially pleasing to see the large numbers of children and teenagers present for the commemoration.
PICTURE: This morning’s Anzac Day march in River Street, Ballina.
