Organisations across Sunbury and the Macedon Ranges are preparing to host Anzac Day commemorations this Friday, with the stories of local veterans set to be shared.
The Sunbury RSL Sub Branch will host two services to commemorate those who have served, offering a dawn and morning service with local veteran guest speakers.
The dawn service will begin at 6am at the Memorial Hall on Stawell Street and will feature Sunbury veteran David Jordan as the guest speaker.
After this service finishes at 9.50am, a march will be held to the war memorial on Stawell Street, where a morning service will begin at 10.15am – with Sunbury veteran Peter McLellan as the guest speaker.
Sunbury RSL president Graeme Williams said the two services have attracted a “good crowd“ in previous years.
The Sunbury Anzac Youth Vigil will return for its fourth year, with all uniformed youth organisation in Sunbury taking part, including Scouts, Guides, emergency service youth units, and cadets.
From 6pm on Thursday, April 24, participants will take turns in shifts throughout the night to maintain a continuous silent watch at the memorial until they are formally relieved by the start of the Sunbury Anzac Day Dawn Service the following morning.
The story of a former Kyneton colonel will be one of those shared at the Mount Macedon Anzac Day Dawn service, with this year’s event focusing on the wide-reaching impacts of war.
The event, on April 25, will draw on stories from local ex-service people to explore the many impacts that war has on those who serve, including the physical injuries, mental effects, and wider repercussions for families.
The event will be emceed by Kyneton Royal Australian Navy veteran Luke Bordonaro, and students from local high schools will present stories from veterans Francis Donovan from Woodend; the late colonel John Charles Barrie, formerly from Kyneton; and veteran James Gardiner Daniel, whose parents previously resided in Kyneton.
Across the Macedon Ranges, there will be services hosted in Gisborne, Kyneton, Malmsbury, Mount Macedon, Romsey, Lancefield, and Woodend – with further details available on the Macedon Ranges website.
Details: mrsc.vic.gov.au/About-Council/News/News/Anzac-Day-2025
