Community & Business
22 April, 2025
Thousands to attend ceremonies
THIS Friday, thousands of people from across the region will be attending Anzac Day ceremonies, with events to be hosted by nearly every town.
In the Mareeba Shire, Anzac Day ceremonies will be held in Chillagoe, Dimbulah, Kuranda, Mt Molloy, Watsonville and Mareeba.
“Anzac Day is a special occasion to honour the legacy, mateship and bravery of the Australian and New Zealand soldiers who faced their first major battle in World War I at Gallipoli,” Mayor Angela Toppin said.
“It is also a day to acknowledge those who continue to serve our country, and I encourage all residents to take the opportunity to show their support by attending your local Anzac Day ceremony.”
In Mareeba, council workers have been busy repairing the base of the historical war memorial (pictured) which has stood in the centre of town for more than a century.
The dawn service starts at 4.28am and continues until 4.58am, followed at 10am by the main march and service.
Chillagoe will host a dawn service at the Chillagoe Town Hall from 4.20am, followed by breakfast. There will also be a march and service from 10 Acre Park in Frew Street to the Chillagoe Hall at 9.30am, followed by a service and morning tea.
At Dimbulah, the dawn service will be held at 6am at the Dimbulah Memorial Hall, while in Kuranda, the service will start at 5.30am at the town’s Railway Station. At 10.30am a march will be held from the IGA to Centenary Park where another service will be held.
In Mount Molloy, the dawn service starts at 6.30am at the cenotaph, while at 10.15am, the march will start from Vains Park to the cenotaph, with a service to follow at 10.30am.
In Watsonville, the service will start at 3pm at Watsonville Shelter Shed.
Atherton will host three events on the day, starting at 4.20am at the cenotaph, followed by a gunfire breakfast at the Barron Valley Hotel. This will be followed at 8.45am with a war graves observance at the War Cemetery. At 10.25am, the march starts at the Atherton Men’s Shed and ends at the cenotaph with a service to follow at 11am.
At Evelyn, a war memorial service will be held on Jonsson Road at 6.20am, while in Herberton, the day starts with a dawn service at the cenotaph at 4.45am. At 9am, locals are invited to attend the Padre White graveside service at Herberton Cemetery. This will be followed at 9.45am with the march to start at the Royal Hotel and end at the cenotaph, with a service to start at 10.05am.
Malanda will host a dawn service at 4am, with the march to start at the Malanda Hotel and end at the Eacham Memorial Gates, followed by a gunfire breakfast at the Top Rail Restaurant. At 8.45am, another march will start from William Street to the Memorial Gates, with the service to begin at 9.30am.
In Millaa Millaa, a march commences at 4.15am from the QCWA Hall to the RSL Hall, followed by a service. Later in the day at 10.15am, the march from the primary school to the RSL Hall takes place, followed by a service at 10.45am.
Mt Garnet hosts two ceremonies on Friday, with the first to start at 5.30am at the cenotaph, followed by a gunfire breakfast at the Town Hall, then the main march begins at 9.30am from the hotel to the hall, followed by a service at 10.10am. This is followed by morning tea at the hall, with locals encouraged to bring a plate to share.
In Ravenshoe, the march starts at the Highland Bakery at 9.30am and continues to the cenotaph, with the serviced to begin at 10am.
In Yungaburra, there are two events – the first at the Afghanistan Avenue of Honour from 5.30am, followed by a gunfire breakfast at 6.30am at the Yungaburra Hotel. At 7.45am, the march starts near Eacham Road opposite Foodworks and ends at the cenotaph.
