Tony Geyer: How Warrnambool will commemorate Anzac Day 2022

It’s the memorial service away from home that will always be “stuck” in the mind of this Warrnambool returned soldier; and it’s what he will remember this Anzac Day.

For Tony Geyer, Anzac Day reminds him of ramp ceremonies at the Kandanar airport in Afghanistan.

It’s where the military gather on the tarmac as the fallen soldier’s coffin is loaded onto a plane headed for home.

“Soldiers from the base would line up and the coffin would be escorted from the hospital onto the tarmac and loaded up into a plane,” Mr Geyer, who is from Cudgee, said.

“The only cargo on that plane heading out was that coffin. It was paying our last respects to a fallen soldier as they were escorted onto the plane and back home.

“It will always be stuck in my mind.”

Warrnambool RSL Military Compensation Advocate Tony Geyer is a husband, father of three, and has served Australia for more than 38 years in the Australian Defence Force.

“I loved every second of it. I consider it an absolute honour to be selected to go across and represent Australia in a coalition headquarters,” he said.

Tony Geyer in 1985 in Melbourne as part of the ‘Freedom of the City of Melbourne’ Parade.

Mr Geyer was a major in the Regional Command South at the divisional headquarter unit in Kandahar Afghanistan, based around the US division 10 Mountain Division.

He was posted as a plans officer and served six months in Afghanistan from April 2011 to late October 2011.

Starting as a soldier in the ADF, he worked later became a captain then major from the 1980s onwards.

Mr Geyer was also a sergeant in the police force for 20 years.

“Anzac Day is an opportunity to reflect on those people who have passed away in the time I was there (in Afghanistan). It’s also an opportunity to remember the good times we had and an opportunity to reach out and reconnect with some good friends,” he said.

CC From the left to right: Captain George Horne, US Army Lieutenant Colonel Ron Puddister, Canadian Army Captain Wade Czajkowski and Army Major Tony Geyer.

Warrnambool Anzac Day commemorations

A veteran’s community march will begin at 6.25am south of Liebig street.

The Warrnambool RSL will then host a Dawn Service after the march with representation from the Royal Australian Navy.

The community is invited to a gunfire breakfast in the RSL clubrooms which will start after the Dawn Service, and a lunch for veterans at 12pm.

The RSL will cover the meals for veterans.

A cemetery walk to visit graves and family memorials of soldiers from the world wars will be hosted by the Warrnambool RSL and the Warrnambool Family History Group.

The cemetery walk will start at 9am from the Warrnambool Cemetery Rotunda.

Anzac Day commemorations in Warrnambool. Picture: Supplied

The popular march along Drummond Street in Dennington will return this Anzac Day, starting at the Shamrock Hotel at 9am to the war memorial.

A community complimentary breakfast at the Old Church opposite the Dennington War Memorial will also be available from 7.30am to 8:.45am.

In Terang there will be a 6am Dawn Service at the High Street Memorial and a 10am service at the Terang RSL.

In Koroit at the Koroit War Memorial there will be a 1pm service.