New RSL president all set for Anzac Day
Lest We forget
Incoming Mossman RSL president John Grime has had a packed schedule this week in the lead-up to Anzac Day tomorrow (Friday, April 25).
The Royal Australian Air Force ex-serviceman, whose fading British accent also gives away his 20 years in the Royal Air Force before moving to Australia, had a host of meetings, presentations and speeches during the busiest time on the RSL calendar, not to mention helping set everything up tomorrow.
Long-serving former president - and current vice-president - Ron Savage and secretary Wally Gray have been showing John the ropes at one of north Queensland’s most well-supported RSL sub-branches in the lead-up to the big occasion - the 111th anniversary since the start of World War I and the 110th anniversary of the Gallipoli campaign.
“Anzac Day for me, it’s the fact that every part of the community turns up,” John says.
“There are kids there that are two and three years old, there’s all the vets and Ron, Wally, members of the RSL, but all the other, not elderly, but senior citizens in the community come down.
“And everything in between.”
John says attendances at the ceremonies in Mossman and Port Douglas have been growing steadily in the four years he has lived in Douglas Shire after moving up from Adelaide, where he served at Edinburgh RAAF base.
“Not suddenly there’s 8000 people there, but you can tell when you get there this is bigger than last year, and it also works in Port because we do the memorial service in Port and the march down Macrossan Street, both of those mean there’s more people involved.”
The trio are expecting about 1500 people for the dawn service in front of the council chambers at Mossman, and about 2500 at the march and service in Port Douglas from 10am, although Ron says he is never quite sure about the exact numbers.
“I get asked that every year but I don’t have a bloody clue because I’m too busy,” he says.
John says he is pleased the younger generation is interested in Anzac Day, and he spoke to students at both Mossman high and Douglas primary this week.
“The teachers are interested in what it means, trying to make the students aware of what Anzac Day is, what the ADF is, what the RSL is,” he says.
John says he is impressed during the march when the next generations are wearing their grandfathers’, dads’ and mums’ medals.
“It is nice there’s that connection,” he says.
“Often they’ve been left the medals when granddad’s passed away, but they still want to be part of it.”
A group of navy sailors from Australian Defence Vessel Cape Fourcroy will be taking part in the Anzac Day ceremonies this year and, you never know, there may even be a special appearance from Mossman’s last World War II veteran, John “Johnno” Johnson.
Johnno, who is now close to 100 and lives in Cairns with his son, tries to make the service every year, depending on his health, except the one year he missed the event after accidentally locking himself inside his own hotel room.
“He couldn’t find his damn key and he was very disappointed in the whole thing but he’s always tried to make it for the dawn service,” Wally says.
Anzac Day events
There are a host of events in Douglas Shire on Anzac Day, Friday, April 25, to commemorate the significant day.
The dawn service at the Mossman Cenotaph on Front Street will begin at 5.15am, with official proceedings starting at 5.25am.
Dignitaries from the Mossman RSL, the clergy, and the Douglas Shire Council will be present to honour the fallen and those who have served.
In Port Douglas, people will gather at Port Village in Macrossan Street from 10am and begin the march towards the cenotaph at 10.15am. The official proceedings will start at the memorial in Anzac Park at 10.30am.
In Cow Bay, attendees will meet at My Pathways carpark on Cape Tribulation Road at 5am and march to the Cow Bay Cenotaph. Official proceedings will begin at 5.25am.To accommodate those attending services, the Daintree Ferry will operate from 4am.
There will also be a ceremony before the Crocs AFL game at Port Douglas oval just before the senior’s game at 4pm.
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