The Quinns Rocks RSL sub-branch president told the Times he wants the local dawn service to become the best in Australia, as it already attracted one of Perth’s biggest crowds outside Kings Park.
‘We have gone from about 20 to 30 attending to over 2000 in seven years,’ Mr Baldry said.
‘We are trying to involve the community as a whole.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOW‘We try to make it a display as much as a ceremony ” the more we put into it the better it gets.’
This year’s service will include electric ‘Lest we forget’ candles for children and performances by the Scottish Coastal Pipe Band and Peter Moyes Anglican Community School choir.
‘It’s lovely when you stand up and look across and you’ve got all these young children with their smiles ” it gives you a real sort of a buzz,’ Mr Baldry said.
‘We think the younger generation is so important ” to bring them up to speed with what happened years ago and why it happened and the difference between good and bad.
‘Don’t forget the guys that are still fighting at the moment.
‘Believe in what the servicemen have done in the past and what they are going to be asked to do in the future.’
The Quinns Rocks dawn service will start at 6am and include speeches from Brigadier Phillip White AM RFD and chaplain Chris Beal, a fly past by the Royal Australian Air Force and visual and audio effects co-ordinated by Bryan Shoosmith.
The Yanchep RSL sub-branch will hold a dawn service and gunfire breakfast at the Yanchep Sports Club on Yanchep Beach Road from 5.45am.
Its annual parade and service in Yanchep National Park will start at 11.30am.
See profile page 4