Manjimup RSL prepares for Anzac Day services

The Manjimup RSL is preparing for its Anzac Day service tomorrow, with four different events to honour those who have fought for their country.

The events will begin with a dawn service, followed by a gunfire breakfast, while the morning service will take place at 11am which will be preceded by a march with people to gather at the RSL Hall at 10.30am.

The RSL members anticipate a busy day for this year’s Anzac Day services, with president Wayne Hughes and secretary Ted Middleton saying they are surprised with how busy the event has been over the years.

“It’s been pretty hectic, my phone doesn’t stop ringing,” Mr Middleton said.

“It seems to be getting busier and busier every year, and it’s been a surprise,” Mr Hughes said.

“We had 550 for the gunfire breakfast last year, and at lunch-time, we made 350 meals.”

Mr Hughes said last year they had about 800 to 1000 people attend the services in Manjimup, which also consisted of the dawn service followed by the morning service.

“Brockman Street was packed, with everyone under the shelter, and everyone was singing the national anthem,” he said.

RSL member Bob Johnson said the number of members the had welcomed over the years had also increased.

“We’ve got about 50 or 60 financial members now, which has been slowly building up, but there were only 19 when I was president back in 1976,” he said.

The popularity of the RSL and Anzac Day services didn’t just stop at the membership either, as Mr Middleton said people had asked to participate both in the wreath laying and the march for this year’s service.

“This year, we’ll have a couple hundred people in the march and the list of wreath layers has grown, and people have rung up about marching,” he said.

Mr Hughes and Mr Middleton commended the support they received from the Manjimup community and the children who came out for the services.

“We appreciate the support we get from the community, especially the school kids and young people,” Mr Middleton said.

“I’ve got four grandkids, and they all love to come along and watch,” Mr Hughes said.

“Every year, you see the kids come out for this service.”