By Jessica Micallef
Sunbury’s young people will participate in a new Anzac Day vigil this year.
The Sunbury Anzac Youth Vigil will allow the town’s young people to pay their respects to Australians who have died in war.
Sunbury RSL secretary Harry Beckwith and vigil committee member Jarrod Bell are spearheading the organistion of the event.
Mr Beckwith said they wanted young people to become more engaged with Anzac Day in Sunbury.
“I’ve been involved with youths through Scouting and we were looking at extending the youth aspect of the RSL and the services,” he said. “We’ve been discussing this for 12 to 18 months and we said: ‘Why don’t we do an all night vigil?’
“We’re hoping that this is the first of an ongoing activity.”
Mr Beckwith said the vigil would be a way for young people to understand the various aspects of what the defence force members go through.
People aged under 25, who belong to a uniformed community and service organisation, will participate in a Holding Ground ceremony and will keep continuous watch over the Sunbury War Memorial Cenotaph in the evening before and morning of Anzac Day.
Scouts, Guides, Air League cadets, SES, CFA and St John Ambulance members will participate in the vigil, with more than 140 young people aged between six and 25 years taking part in the event.
Mr Bell said the event was a great chance for the younger generation to understand the meaning of Anzac Day.
“The vigil gives an opportunity for our young people to do their bit, to say thanks and to reflect on the importance of Anzac Day,” he said.
The vigil will start at 6pm on Wednesday, April 24, at the Sunbury cenotaph.
