ANZAC Day 2022 will see commemorations return to near normal across the region, with big turnouts expected following the return of in-person services.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said COVID-19 had impacted the past two years and she was enthusiastic about seeing people back again this 25 April.
“I encourage everyone to mark ANZAC Day by attending a service or commemoration across the City of Ipswich or stand united in spirit on your driveway to ‘Light Up the Dawn’,” Mayor Harding said.
“Ipswich City Council is proud to partner with the Ipswich RSL Sub-Branch to host the ANZAC Day Main March on Monday, 25 April.
“It will be great to see the crowds again recognising the spirit of the ANZACs, and council is proud to have worked so closely with community organisations to deliver so many services around the city.”
Communities are also being encouraged to take to their own streets and light up the dawn together, such as an end-of-driveway commemoration, which proved popular during previous COVID-19 restrictions.
Mayor Harding said Ipswich continues to hold a deep connection to the men and women who have, and continue to serve our nation.
“We are a proud garrison town and home to the Air Force’s largest base in RAAF Base Amberley,” Mayor Harding said.
“ANZAC Day is a day to acknowledge the unique nature of military service and the sacrifice demanded of all who commit to defend our nation. Service is about sacrifice and that sacrifice has touched many families throughout our community across generations.
“This ANZAC Day, I encourage Ipswich residents to commemorate those who have served our nation, including the men and women who paid the ultimate price to protect our way of life, as well as those who continue to live with the cost of their service.”
Community, Culture, Arts and Sport Committee Chairperson Councillor Andrew Fechner said council in 2021 established a new ANZAC Day Commemorative Services funding and in-kind support grant program to assist organising committees.
“The program enables ANZAC Day commemorations across the City of Ipswich to be appropriately supported this year and into the future,” Cr Fechner said.
“This financial assistance has helped various organisations put on relatively small ANZAC Day dawn services to some of the major events at Springfield Central, Goodna and Bundamba.”
Council allocated about $50,000 in funding and in-kind assistance, contributing to services across all four divisions at Springfield Central Domain, Ripley Valley, Redbank Plains, Redbank, Goodna, Bundamba, West Ipswich/One Mile, Brassall, Marburg, Pine Mountain and Rosewood.
About 10,000 people are expected to attend the dawn service at Robelle Domain.
This year’s main march will step off at 10.45am from the corner of Brisbane and Waghorn streets, before turning left into Ellenborough Street, left into Darling Street East, right into West Street and then left into Mary Street before ending at Timothy Moloney Park opposite St Mary’s Church.
Services will be held at 4.27am and 8.30am at the RSL Memorial Gardens on the corner of Limestone and Nicholas streets, with the latter preceded by a march at 8.20am from South Street.
A complete listing of community commemorative services is available at council’s website here
