ANZAC Day remembrance ceremonies will be held throughout the Southern Downs region on Monday.  

Participating in these special commemorative services is of great personal importance to Southern Downs Mayor Tracy Dobie, who served in the Australian Army for 22 years, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.  

"ANZAC Day is a significant time to reflect on the anniversary of the 1915 Gallipoli landing and those brave souls who died in the service of their country. But it is an equally important time to remember the sacrifices made by current and ex-servicemen and women who died in war and on operational service in the hundred years since," she said.

  "There has been a growing interest and increased participation by the community in ANZAC day services across the Southern Downs and the nation, and with the significant milestone last year marking the ANZAC Centenary, we're certainly expecting a greater turnout at services next week."  

Mayor Dobie highlighted that numerous services have been organised throughout the region by the Returned Services League, the Veteran Services & Advocacy Services Australia and Southern Downs Regional Council, to enable all community members the flexibility to select a service that best suits their timetable.  

"As most residents would know the Warwick services include a Dawn Service, ceremonies at the War Graves Cemetery and Eden Gardens Memorial Park, a march and an 11am service at the Cenotaph in Leslie Park," she said.

 "A similar program of ANZAC Day services has been arranged for the Stanthorpe community, but it should be noted that this year the venue for the 11am commemorative service will be held at the Stanthorpe RSL Club and not the Stanthorpe Civic Centre or the Weeroona Park Band Shell."  

Services will also be held in many of the smaller communities within the Southern Downs region including Allora, Killarney, Tannymorel, Yangan, Emu Vale, Leyburn, Pratten and Wallangarra.  

"These are solemn occasions and I am pleased to honour the strong feeling of mateship of our diggers," Cr Dobie said.  

"These ceremonies also serve an important role to encourage children to understand and appreciate the ANZAC legend and spirit."  

Mayor Dobie will attend the Stanthorpe ANZAC Day dawn service, the War Graves ceremony and the Warwick ANZAC Day march and commemorative service.  

The Deputy Mayor and all councillors will attend and lay wreaths at various services across the region and look forward to standing with the community to remember the fallen.   

    ANZAC Day services 

Warwick

5:15am for 5:30am start Dawn Service, Leslie Park Cenotaph, Warwick

8:45am Ceremony at War Graves Cemetery

9:30am Ceremony at Eden Gardens Memorial Park, Little Warner St, Warwick

10:45am March commences from the Warwick RSL

11:00am Service at Leslie Park Cenotaph, Warwick  

Stanthorpe

5:30am Dawn Service, Weeroona Park, Stanthorpe Followed by a Gunfire Breakfast, Stanthorpe RSL Club

7:30am Service at Wall of Remembrance, Stanthorpe RSL Club

10:30am Parade, from corner Maryland/Folkestone Streets to Marsh St, Stanthorpe

11:00am Commemorative Service, Stanthorpe RSL Club, Marsh St, Stanthorpe

11:30am Wreath Laying Service, Weeroona Park War Memorial, Marsh St, Stanthorpe  

Allora

5:30am Dawn Service, Allora War Memorial Gardens, Warwick St, Allora

6:00am Gun fire breakfast at the Allora RSL

9:30am Service at the Allora Cemetery, Allora-Clifton Rd, Allora

10:45am Parade from Herbert St to the Allora RSL

11:00am Commemorative Service at the Allora War Memorial Gardens, Warwick St, Allora  

Killarney and Tannymorel

5:30am Dawn Service at the Killarney Cenotaph

8:00am Service at the Tannymorel Cenotaph

9:30am Service at the Killarney Cenotaph  

Leyburn and Pratten

5:30am Dawn Service at Pratten Heritage Park (followed by Gun fire breakfast)

5:45am Dawn Service at Leyburn RSL

9:15am March commences from McIntyre St to Liberator Park, Leyburn

9:30am Service at Liberator Park, Leyburn  

Wallangarra

5:30am Dawn Service in front of Wallangarra RSL Hall, Barawell St, Wallangarra

11:30am Parade, starting from the Wallangarra RSL Hall, Barawell St to the Wallangarra Jennings Progress Association (WJPA) Hall, Merinda St.

12:00pm Commemorative Service at the WJPA Hall, Merinda St, Wallangarra.