Anzac Day memorial service will be first major post-flood event at Sturt Reserve

The Murray Bridge Council wants to hear from the community on whether the Anzac Day services should be at Sturt Reserve.

The council is deciding on whether to approve a Murray Bridge RSL sub branch proposal to hold Anzac and Remembrance Day services at Sturt Reserve for the next 10 years.

To guide its decision, the council would like community feedback on the proposed agreement, which would allow the RSL to hold such services at the Murray Bridge War Memorial in the history and tourism precinct.

If the agreement is approved, which is highly likely, this year’s Anzac Day memorial service would be the first major event to be held at Sturt Reserve since high river flows at the start of December.

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs website explains the meaning behind holding ANZAC Day services at dawn.

“In Australia and New Zealand, the timing of the dawn service links symbolically to the first landing on Gallipoli at dawn on 25 April 1915,” the website states.

“Since early times, the half-light of dawn was one of the most favoured times to attack an adversary.

“In the trenches of Gallipoli and the Western Front, and on the front lines in the Middle East, a company's orderly officer and sergeant woke those soldiers on active duty an hour or so before dawn.”

As part of their legislative requirements, the Murray Bridge council must consult with the community about the exclusive use of community assets to ensure people are happy with how the assets are being used.

The consultation will close at 3pm on April 20.

• Have your say: letstalk.murraybridge.sa.gov.au.
• More information: Contact Sue Reynolds on 8539 1100 or at s.reynolds@murraybridge.sa.gov.au.

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