Rattler leaves Gympie Train Station for Anzac commemoration

More than 100 people took a special train ride to Amamoor the day after Anzac Day to raise funds for veterans experiencing homelessness and as part of the Gympie RSL’s week of Anzac events. Watch the video:

The Mary Valley Rattler was dressed in a wreath on Wednesday morning to commemorate the Anzac heroes as part of the Gympie RSL week long Anzac celebrations.

“Anzac Day means a lot to me, when times are tough in Australia, mates help mates and they've been doing it for well over 100 years,” Gympie RSL group manager Martin Muller said.

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Gympie RSL group manager Martin Muller talks about commemorating the men carried off to fight in the First and Second World Wars with a special train ride to Amamoor raising funds for veterans experiencing homelessness. Picture: Christine Schindler

He was proudly wearing the medals of his grandfather who served in New Guinea, now Papua New Guinea, during the Second World War.

Before boarding the train, a minute silence was observed with the playing of The Last Post and Rouse. More than 100 people joined in the train ride to Amamoor to raise money for the RLS veterans experiencing homelessness around Gympie.

Gympie RSL and Mary Valley Rattler commemorates the men carried off to fight in the Frist World War and Second World War with a special train ride to Amamoor raising funds for veterans experiencing homelessness. Picture: Christine Schindler

Gympie Station has a very direct connection with the Anzac legacy, said a press release from The Mary Valley Rattler. The station opened in December 1913, just prior to the First World War, and was the send-off and return point for Diggers fighting in both world wars.

Hundreds of residents from the Gympie region volunteered for the Australian Imperial Expeditionary Force in the First World War, including some 30 for the Light Horse Brigade, reflecting the region’s strong horse-riding skills, the statement noted.

The train went to Amamoor and back and everyone got a Anzac cookie for the ride.

This event is part of a week-long celebration remembering the Anzacs and precludes the Gympie RSL Masked Ball on Saturday, April 29, 2023.

The Gympie Times is looking forward to sharing its photo gallery from the Masked Ball with the community.

Originally published as Rattler leaves Gympie Train Station for Anzac commemoration