Anzac Day commemoration services across Cairns

This Anzac Day will mark 50 years since the end of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War with, commemoration services to be held across Cairns.

Anzac Day this year will mark 50 years since the end of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War with commemoration services to be held across Cairns.

More than 60,000 Australians served in Vietnam, more than 3000 were wounded and 523 gave their lives in the longest conflict Australians were involved in during the 20th Century.

The Cairns RSL sub branch has 131 Vietnam veterans within its membership.

The Shingles family will gather to commemorate four generations of military service on Tuesday.

The Cairns RSL Sub Branch will focus this year's Anzac Day Dawn Service and commemorative service on Far North Queensland's Vietnam War veterans. Navy Cadet Petty Officer Jaxon Shingles, Cairns RSL Sub Branch President and veteran Nathan Shingles and Vietnam veteran Graham Shingles at the Cairns cenotaph. Picture: Brendan Radke

Grandfather Graham Shingles served in Vietnam following his father who also served in the Australian Army.

Mr Shingles said the 50 year occasion of the end of Vietnam was a time for reflection.

“When it ended it was a time of rejoice for all because we got to come home,” he said.

Mr Shingles’ legacy of service has been passed onto his son Nathan, who served in the Royal Australian Navy, and his grandson Jaxon, who is finalising his entry into the navy after completing his time as a navy cadet.

The Cairns RSL Sub Branch will focus this year's Anzac Day Dawn Service and commemorative service on Far North Queensland's Vietnam War veterans. Cairns RSL Sub Branch President and veteran Nathan Shingles will honour his father, Vietnam veteran Graham Shingles and son, Navy Cadet Petty Officer Jaxon Shingles at the Cairns cenotaph on Tuesday. Picture: Brendan Radke

“It is a source of great pride to see them also continue with our family’s legacy,” the elder Mr Shingles said.

As the Cairns RSL Sub Branch President, Nathan said it was always important to him that he followed his father’s legacy of sacrifice and pride in responsibility.

“We love our country and will always be proud to protect and serve and as a younger veteran it was important for me to be able to give back to those before me through the RSL and those to follow,” he said.

Jaxon will be completing his final steps towards entering the Australian navy as an officer in the coming months before moving to undergo initial training.

“Anzac Day has always had a special atmosphere for me and it grew that sense of responsibility and helped me to decide to follow my family’s footsteps,” he said.

Traditional Dawn Services will begin ceremonies in the early hours of the morning.

Trinity Beach will be one of the locations of the morning Dawn Services and will highlight the connection the location has to those who served and will include school and community groups.

“The inclusion of school choirs and students in the dawn service provides the opportunity for

new generations to be involved; to recognise and remember the service and sacrifice of members of the Australian Defence Force” event co-ordinator Majella Fallon said.

Between May 1943 and December 1944, Australian and American troops underwent intensive

training both day and night on Trinity Beach for all aspects of amphibious warfare.

Troops were then deployed in the war zones north of Australian shores, in particular to Borneo and Papua New Guinea.

The Trinity Beach esplanade is named after Major General George Vasey was the popular Commander of the 6th Australian Division which took part in these training exercises.

This year for the first time the Cairns Dawn Service and march will also be live streamed.

There will be road closures throughout the day to accommodate ceremonial marches.

Services

Babinda

Dawn Service – 4am assemble, 4.20am march commences

Morning parade and commemorative service – 9.45am assemble at RSL Memorial Hall, 10am march commences

Cairns

Dawn Service – 5.30am at the Cenotaph on the Cairns Esplanade

Services parade – 7.30am from Fogarty Park

Commemorative service – 8.15am (approx.): begins after passing of the march at the Cenotaph

Edge Hill

Dawn assembly – 4am start, 4.28am service at war graves section, Martyn Street Cemetery

Edmonton

Dawn parade – 5.30am assemble at Cenotaph at Fuller Park, 6.30am parade assembles at Fuller Park, march from 7am to 7.30am

Gordonvale

Dawn parade – 3.30am Gunfire breakfast at Gordonvale RSL, 4am parade assembles on Gordon Street, 4.15am Dawn Service at the Norman Park cenotaph

Commemorative service – 9am parade assembles at Gordonvale State Primary School, 9.30am march to Norman Park cenotaph followed by service and wreath laying, 10am commemorative service

Stratford

Commemorative service – ​9.30am form-up in Magazine Street, 9.50am March to parkland in front of Stratford Bowls Club, 10.07am – commemoration service commences

Trinity Beach

Dawn parade – 5.30am commemoration service

Yorkeys Knob

Commemorative service – 8.30am at Boat Club Marina

Originally published as Anzac Day commemoration services across Cairns