17/08/2026
Thank you to everybody that joined us to pay their respects at our annual VP Day service at Jubilee Park on Saturday, 15th August 2026.
VP Day – Victory in the Pacific Day – is an important day in Australia’s history, marking the end of the Second World War on 15 August 1945. It represents the end of almost six years of devastating conflict and honours the extraordinary service, courage and sacrifice of the Australians who fought throughout the Pacific and beyond.
For Australia, the war in the Pacific was particularly significant. For the first time, conflict had reached our own shores, and Australians fought desperately to protect our nation and the freedoms we continue to enjoy today. VP Day is a time to remember those who never came home, those who returned forever changed by their service, the prisoners of war who endured unimaginable hardship, and the families and communities who carried the burden of war at home.
More than a celebration of victory, VP Day represents sacrifice, resilience, mateship and remembrance. It reminds us that the peace and freedom we enjoy today came at an enormous cost, and that we have a responsibility to ensure the service and sacrifice of that generation is never forgotten.
A special thank you to Mackay Regional Council and Mayor Greg Williamson, Master of Ceremonies Georgia Malony, Speech Presenter Russell Van Den Bosch, Reverend Jim Brown, 122 Army Cadet Unit Mackay Region Cadet CPL Isaac Williamson, Piper Graeme Jewell, Singer Malu Simeon and the Mackay Tiger Moth Museum for their perfectly timed flyover.
Also, it has to be noted that our very own WWII veteran, Mr Lewis Burley, celebrated his 98th Birthday on Saturday!
We remember them. Lest We Forget. 🌹
📸 Graham Jackson
