Organisers of Gunnedah’s Anzac Day commemorations are preparing for record crowds for the centenary services.
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The Gunnedah RSL Sub-Branch will host several events including a dawn service from 5.30am and morning march and service from 10am.
RSL Sub-Branch president Peter Kannengiesser told The Namoi Valley Independent he was expecting a day of “high emotion”.
“The day is coming together quite well at this stage,” Mr Kannengiesser said.
“A lot of organisation has gone into the whole day and it’s been very pleasing to see more and more people get involved with the day itself.”
Mr Kannengiesser said Wednesday’s dawn service would be a very special event.
“It’s difficult to describe the feeling you get at an Anzac Day dawn service,” he said.
“We will be running the service to mirror the official protocol in Canberra to ensure it’s done as well as possible.
“With that in my mind, if you can picture yourself being among the men who landed on Gallipoli, the setting of dawn makes for an eerie feeling with high emotion.
“I encourage anyone who has never been to a dawn service to come along and see it for themselves.”
Gunnedah’s annual march is also promising to be a large event.
“It’s tough to know how many people we can expect to attend the morning service, but we know that about 90 people are expected to be in the march,” Mr Kannengiesser said.
“In the last three or four years we have seen the numbers in the march increase.
“It has been terrific to see so many schools from around the shire taking part in the day.
“Along with them, it is always special to see people wearing their parents or grandparents medals in the march.”
On the day, several community groups and services will be assisting in organising the events.
“Our emergency services will be on hand to ensure everything runs as smoothly as possible and other groups will provide vital services,” Mr Kannengiesser said.
“Overall, I am expecting our tight-knit community spirit to be on display throughout the day.”
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