WARRNAMBOOL’S Anzac Day program will be the envy of most of Victoria, local RSL sub-branch president John Miles believes.
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Starting at 5.15am with an on-screen introduction and followed by the distinctive booms of two Napoleonic-era cannon at 5.35am, there will be non-stop activities running through to early afternoon.
Five thousand commemorative booklets have been printed to be distributed among the crowds, which are expected to contain numerous family members and descendants of Great War veterans and surviving veterans from later conflicts.
The dawn and 11am services will be shown on a large electronic screen on Cannon Hill, plus locally-produced documentaries and a major international documentary narrated by actor Jeremy Irons, finishing with a telecast of the Anzac Day service at Gallipoli.
Planning started more than a year ago for what is expected to be the largest crowds in decades at the memorial precinct at the southern end of Liebig Street. “The work that’s gone into this is amazing. I’m overcome,” Mr Miles said.
“We are a very privileged RSL to have assistance from the whole community.
“I think we’ll be the envy of a lot of RSL clubs.”
Mayor Michael Neoh will hold a civic reception this evening at the Lighthouse Theatre to acknowledge the input of a individuals and groups in organising the centenary program.
“It has been a huge undertaking from a wide section of the community,” council communications officer Callan McDuff said.
The dawn service will be preceded by a street march at 5.55am reserved for veterans accompanied by a drummer who will arrive at the memorial just as a trio from Australia, New Zealand and Britain fire two rounds each from .303 rifles.
Later there will be a breakfast at the RSL clubrooms, a barbecue provided by Daybreak Rotary Club, a soup kitchen by the Salvation Army and a coffee vendor.
Vintage vehicles will line nearby Merri Street and a military-themed guided tour of the Warrnambool cemetery from 7-8am will trace the gravestones of former soldiers.
Dozens of relatives of veterans from the First World War are expected to respond to an open invitation to join the mid-morning street march, proudly wearing their forebears’ medals. Organising committee member Doug Heazlewood advised participants to arrive at the Liebig Street assembly area by 10.30am for what he expected to be a large turnout.
Two Vietnam War veterans will be guest speakers at the 11am service and four primary school children will read Anzac verses they wrote for the occasion.
An addition to the program this year will be delivery of Ataturk’s famous message to the fallen and their families to be read in Turkish and English.