MOREE Services Club will host the Anzac Day dawn service on April 25.

Anzac Day is a time for all Australians to recognise the 1.5 million service men and women who have served the country in all conflicts, wars and peacekeeping operations.

It’s also a time to remember the more than 100,000 Australians who sacrificed their lives in the name of their country.

The day upholds several traditions, including dawn and sunset services, veteran marches, and wreath-laying ceremonies.

In Moree, the dawn service is traditionally held at the Memorial Window, and will again take pride of place near the Moree Services Club’s main entrance and driveway on April 25.

The Anzac Day dawn service will commence at 6am, with marchers asked to assemble by 5.50am.

A memorial service for Moree soldier, Private Max Wales, will be held at 9am, at Wales Memorial Park on the western side of Moree Services Club.

Private Wales, a member of the 6th Royal Australian Regiment, died at Long Tan, Vietnam on August 18, 1966. He was 22.

He was born on April 18, 1944 at Goondiwindi and enlisted in the army and commenced duty in Vietnam on June 8, 1966.

Private Wales is buried in the Church of England portion of Moree Cemetery.

Anzac Day dawn service at Moree Services Club.

At 9.30am, the parade will marshal in Balo Street, south of Moree RSL Sub-Branch Military Museum, with a salute taking place in front of the museum.

The Anzac Day parade will then march to Moree War Memorial Hall for the wreath-laying ceremony.

Afterwards, Moree Girl Guides will provide morning tea and Anzac biscuits in the regional library, and participants are encouraged to join them.

The Moree and District Band and Moree Caledonian Society Pipes and Drums will provide entertainment.

Moree RSL Sub-Branch president John Williams said Anzac Day was arguably Australia’s most important day of the year.

“Anzac Day is a time of remembrance, especially for ex-servicemen and women to remember those they fought with – their comrades – and those they lost,” Mr Williams said.

“It is a very important time – a very important time for the community.

“Sadly, it’s being lost a little bit and the RSL wants to bring it back so it’s remembered always.

“It needs to be remembered that those young men and women who went overseas and fought in conflicts all the way through to wars today, went to fight so people in Australia can live in the country it is today,” he said.

“Australia is a free country, and we’ve never had a war on our shores. I think that’s something that people need to remember now and into the future.”

Moree Services Club will provide breakfast from 7am in the club’s barbecue area for dawn service participants, and will also provide lunch from midday for veterans, dignitaries and invited guests.

Entertainment will be provided by Moree and District Band and Moree Caledonian Society Pipes and Drums.

There will be raffles and two-up at Moree Services Club during the day, commencing after all main events.

Mr Williams wants Anzac Day commemorations to continue well into the future.

“I encourage everyone to come along to the dawn service and the main service and commemorate the day,” Mr Williams said.

“The important thing, is to bring along the children – it’s the children we want there and to be involved.

“Anzac Day is a day to remember what happened in the past. It should never be forgotten,” he said

RSL NSW President Mick Bainbridge said Anzac Day is the most sacred day on the national calendar. “It’s important that every Australian has the opportunity to pause, reflect and honour those who have served and who continue to serve,” Mr Bainbridge said.

“We must do all that we can to preserve the Anzac spirit and ensure the unique sacrifices of our servicemen and women, past and present, and their contribution to our Australian way of life are never forgotten.”

PLEASE NOTE: Wreath layers are asked to notify master of ceremonies Roger Butler by phone or email about individual or group wreath-laying arrangements.

Mr Butler can be contacted by calling 6752 1677 or email [email protected].

Anzac Day Moree

Dawn Service

Where: Moree Services Club Memorial Window

Time: 6am

Private Max Wales Memorial Service

Where: Wales Memorial Park on the western side of Moree Services Club

Time: 9am

Anzac Day March and Memorial Service

Where: Balo Street

Time: from 9.30am

Service: Moree War Memorial Hall

Moree RSL Regional Military Museum will be open to the public from about 1pm until 5pm.