For the first time since the town's war memorial was erected in Horton Street, Port Macquarie will hold its Anzac Day commemoration at a new venue.
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The spacious, cool and comfortable waterfront green, where the memorial is now located should lend itself admirably to the occasion, and a record number of returned personnel and other local residents is anticipated.
Mr. R. D. Bawden, honorary secretary of the RSL Sub-branch, said yesterday arrangements were well in hand for both the commemoration at the memorial and the annual Anzac dinner re-union, to follow in the RSL Club's auditorium.
Mr. Bawden said returned men would assemble at the same spot as in former years - at Dick Gentle's store - and will march along Horton Street to the memorial.
Provision will be made with reserved seats on the green for those veterans unable to participate in the march.
Port Macquarie population
According to the Bureau of Census and Statistics the estimated permanent population of Port Macquarie at June 30, last year was 8190.
Almost a full year has passed since this figure was compiled, and the result of the next official census will almost certainly show the figure to be higher.
The figure of 8190 represents a rise of about 2500 people during the 1960 decade.
El Paso restaurant leased
The El Paso Restaurant, which has, in its two years of existence, become one of Port Macquarie's most popular restaurants, has been leased by two men with years of experience in the dining trade behind them.
The lessees are Ray Wilkinson and Bob Hazelwood. Ray has spent 15 years in the restaurant trade. He has been chef at the Caprice (Rose Bay), Prunier's (Double Bay), and the Carlton Rex (Sydney), and has had experience in overseas cuisine.
He will be chef at the El Paso. Bob has had 13 years in the hotel trade, including three and a half years at the Phahlets Hotel, in Sydney. At this hotel he was involved in catering for numerous functions. T
The lessees have numerous plans for the restaurant. They envisage a "family man's" night, table cooking, supper dances, Sunday luncheons with seafood a speciality, as well as providing for weddings and other functions.
The El Paso is becoming popular as a conference centre and 20 will be held there in the next couple of months.
On Mother's Day they will put on a special luncheon. All mothers attending will be presented with a bouquet.
Council has improvements planned
The municipal council has many worthwhile improvements included in a $9500 program for parks and reserves, $3500 of which is anticipated from government grants.
A miscellaneous committee meeting of council dealt with a program submitted by the engineer, Eric Grogan, to a meeting on Tuesday night. The engineer submitted for consideration a number of works including: Lake Cathie improvements - Levelling and grassing of area, gravelling and sealing of access road, tree planting and provision of improved picnic facilities - preliminary estimate - $5000, and Shelly Beach Reserve Improvements - Provision of toilet block, septic tank and improved picnic facilities -preliminary estimate - $4000.
