A big Thank you from Moruya RSL

Moruya RSL Sub Branch would like to say a big "thank you"to all those who helped us on ANZAC Day. We had four services on ANZAC DAY beginning with the Dawn Service & finishing up at the Bunkers with the Dusk Service where the bamboo flares were lit to commemorate the prisoners who died on the Thai-Burma railway. . We are so pleased to have the "Friends of the Moruya RSL Sub Branch " formed & they were a wonderful help for us. If you would like to learn more about the "Friends "& how they are able to help us contact the Friends Co-ordinator, Vicki Mennie by email at miss_vtm@hotmail.com but please make sure you leave a phone number & name for her. It was wonderful to see Robert Griffith, our new President, receive his Life Membership on ANZAC Day presented by Dr Michael Holland MP, a proud moment for him & all our members. We were so pleased to receive it from RSL State Headquarters in time to be presented on ANZAC Day. Our new lectern presented to the Branch at the previous meeting by Peter McDowell from the Eurobodalla Woodies looked impressive on the day with the lovely wood carving on the front of it for the Royal Australian Air Force. Also our marchers carrying the flags at the march were very impressed with the beautifully made stave hand grips which had been done at an earlier time by Wayne Rooks for the Branch. Thank you to all those who attended the memorial service at one of the flag marked graves at the Moruya Cemetery on Sunday 16th April. We hope to be able to do this each year at a different graveside in remembrance of those men from Moruya & if possible with family present. Help was at hand from Tim Weyman & the Moruya Football Club, our Moruya Brass Band & bugler and the local School Cadets as well as the Classic & Vintage Motor Club of Eurobodalla who drove those not able to march but wanting to participate. We had HMAS Creswell represented once again in the March & as the catafalque party who later enjoyed the Bbque lunch with us & spoke to the many veterans from the March or those who were unable to march but came to the service. It gives us great pleasure as members of the Moruya RSL Sub Branch to see all our local schools represented & the students participate in the placing of the wreaths from their schools. We had a large number of local organizations represented this year with the wreaths being placed at the Memorial. We wish to remind all members the next meeting for the Moruya RSL Sub Branch is on the Tuesday,15th May at 2p.m. The meeting is always held on the third Tuesday of the month at the RSL Memorial Hall 11 Page St. Moruya. All veterans & serving personnel from the Armed Services are welcome to attend & become members of the RSL Sub Branch.

Above: the lectern with the catafalque party marching down on the left the Chaplain David Thiem behind President Robert Griffith at the lectern & on the right Brigadier Suzanne Melotte the guest speaker.

The Memorial after visitors had gone & all the wreaths.