Anzac Day 2019: Almost 3000 people attend Ringwood Dawn Service

Thousands of people paid their respects at Anzac Day commemorations this morning, with an increasing number of servicemen and servicewomen from recent conflicts involved.

Ex-servicemen Matt Ellis, Grant Stephens and Ian Moore got into the two-up at Ringwood RSL sub-branch as part of Anzac Day commemorations this morning. Picture: Kiel Egging.

COINS flew, beers flowed and respects were paid at Anzac Day commemorations in Ringwood this morning.

Almost 3000 people attended a Dawn Service at the Ringwood Clocktower before heading to the Ringwood RSL sub-branch for a gunfire breakfast and games of two-up.

Sub-branch president David Jamison said the crowd was slightly larger than last year’s service.

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He said it was particularly pleasing to see ex-servicemen from recent conflicts attend.

“We’ve got more younger and more recent veterans come today than we’ve had in the past,” he said.

“We exist to help these guys and we want them to be part of who we are.

“The fact they feel comfortable to come to the service and come back to the club later is very encouraging.”

Two-up was in full swing at the Ringwood RSL sub-branch this morning. Picture: Kiel Egging.

Boronia’s Matt Ellis and Grant Stephens and Ringwood’s Ian Moore met for this first time this morning and discovered they had served together.

They were part of the Royal Australian Signal Corp in East Timor, while Matt and Grant also served in Afghanistan and Iraq.

“As new conflicts occur its good to see them entering the fray of being recognised,” Grant said.

“From my perspective its for veterans of World War I and World War II, but it's a proud day for us as well because we’ve all served together in some way or other,” Ian said.

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