Community
16 April, 2026
Remembering those who served
COMMUNITIES across the region will gather in solemn commemoration when Anzac Day services are held later this month.
Anzac Day ceremonies will be held across the region on Saturday, April 25 in Terang, Mortlake, Noorat, Ellerslie and Panmure.
The first service of the day will be held at Terang, with a dawn service at 5.45am at the Returned and Services League (RSL) hall on the corner of Bayne and Shadforth streets.
A commemorative service will be held in Noorat at 8am at the war memorial on Mackinnons Bridge Road, opposite the Presbyterian Church.
From 9am a service will be held in Ellerslie at the War Memorial on the Hopkins Highway, led by the members of the Mortlake RSL sub-branch.
The members will then be shifting over to Mortlake for a march from 10am, leaving from the corner of Webster and Dunlop streets, before heading to the War Memorial on Officer Street, opposite the police station, for a service.
Meanwhile in Terang there will be a special service with guest speakers held from 10am at the Terang RSL hall before a march along High Street to the War Memorial (opposite the post office) from 11am with a guest speaker sharing their family connection to the Vietnam War.
The final service for the day will be held at Panmure, with a march departing from the corner of Church Lane and Harris Street at 2pm heading to the War Memorial for a service.
Mortlake Returned and Services League sub-branch president John McGuigan, an Army veteran, said the day is a solemn one in remembrance of those who served their country.
“Anzac Day is one in which we remember the Australian and New Zealand veterans, as opposed to the worldwide Remembrance Day, so it’s more personal for us,” he said.
“We do see people who come back to the towns on Anzac Day, farmers coming in to town and people having a yarn to see one another.”
Mr McGuigan said rising international tensions seen in the conflict between the United States of America and Israel with Iran only heightened the impact Anzac Day has among those attending services.
“It’s a raw nerve because you start thinking ‘here we go again’,” he said.
“Sometimes it makes you think nothing has changed and what was the point?
“It goes around and around, and I don’t think it’ll stop.
“It brings back memories, good and bad, but we try to reflect on the good and remember our mates.
“It is a moment to pause, reflect and think about what a lucky country we are.”
Terang RSL sub-branch president Dianne Meade said Anzac Day ceremonies held such significance with people as most know someone who, in one form or another, served their country.
“I would imagine everyone has someone in their lives who has been touched by being in the service somehow – from national service to wars and cadetships,” she said.
“My father served in World War II and my grandfather served in the First World War as a sniper in France, so it has quite a bit of significance for me to be doing what I’m doing as president.
“My brother, who has now passed away, was called up into National Service and served for three years there.
“A lot of people don’t talk about the war and it wasn’t really spoken about, but there was quite a bit that went on in our family with the war – which is part of what makes me so dedicated to the RSL.”
Mrs Meade said the ceremonies were an opportunity to not only reflect on those who served their country, but also on why they served and the lingering impacts of their service.
“People have to take a moment for five minutes, or five seconds, to reflect back on those service men, woman and animals who all contributed to where we are today,” she said.
“Their sacrifices made all our lives a little easier.
“The current situation of the world at the moment makes you realise things can get out of hand very quickly, and we need our service people to be there for us.”