International relations between branches of the Returned Services League (RSL) continue to grow stronger, with members from the Royal British League Scotland (RBLS) Wick, Canisbay and Latheron branch to join with veterans from the Laurieton RSL for commemorations on Anzac Day.
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The war veterans from Scotland will be accompanied by the RBLS national chairman Charlie Brown and their very own piper Rod Paton.
They arrive on April 20 and their trip will include a packed week of activity in the Port Macquarie-Hastings and a visit to the Senate and National Memorial in Canberra.
Royal British Legion Scotland chief executive Kevin Gray said the trip will continue to build relations between veteran’s organisations, with the aims of the trip to include the sharing of best practice for supporting armed forces veterans.
“We are honoured and grateful to RSL National, its Laurieton sub branch and Port Macquarie for hosting us during the visit and can only hope that we are offered the opportunity to show our gratitude by hosting you in 2019,” Mr Gray said.
The secretary of Laurieton’s RSL George Wise is an honoury member of the RBLS Wick.
Chairman of the RBLS Wick, Canisbay and Latheron branch Richard Otley’s late father William was a member of the Laurieton RSL sub branch.
Captain Richard Otley said George showed great care to ex-servicemen and women who immigrated to Australia, in particular his late father.
George and his wife Therese visited Scotland in 2017 to attend the Mey Highland and Cultural Games, where they met the Patron of the Games His Royal Highness Prince Charles, The Duke of Rothesay.
Laurieton RSL Sub Branch’s Anzac Day commemorations begin at 5.30am on Wednesday, April 25 with a Dawn Service at the memorial park on Kew Road.
The march will begin outside the Laurieton United Services Club at 10.30am. Marchers are asked to assemble outside the club at 10.20am. The parade will march along Seymour and Bold Streets to the cenotaph at the memorial park.
Transport for ex-service men and women who are unable to march, will be provided courtesy of the Hastings Auto Restorers Club. If the weather is severe, the service will be held at the LUSC.
The Kendall RSL Sub Branch will host Dawn Service at the Kendall Cenotaph at 5.30am. The commemoration service and march will begin at 10am opposite the general store in Comboyne Street. Members are asked to form up and be ready to move off at 10am sharp.
If the weather is unkind, the service will be held at the Kendall School of Arts Hall. Following the service, the community is welcome to retire to the Kendall Services and Citizen’s Club on Graham Street.
For more information contact sub branch president Lance Gainey on 6559 4478.
For details about road closures across the Hastings and including the Camden Haven click here