02/05/2026
ANZAC Day 2026 - Thank you [it's a long and well deserving list!]
The day is a big one for our volunteers with work starting back in February, a little bit earlier for some aspects. For some parts we have already started planning for 2027.
We acknowledge that the day does not happen without the support of many people in this community we call Scrubby. That support comes in all shapes and size, sometimes personally, sometimes organisationally, always with positive intent.
From a State and Local government perspective, we express our sincere thanks to those people in the Queensland Police Walkerston Station, the local SES, TMR, and the several departments of the Mackay Regional Council who simply made things happen simply. What happens for our services epitomises community, so thank you.
For our local political representatives, we appreciate your vocal support and continued presence at our services. It is acknowledged that you cannot be everywhere, but when you are with us, it is warmly welcomed; so, thank you Glen Kelly MP, Michelle Landry, Mayor Greg Williamson, Councillor Ash-Lee Johnson, Cr Belinda Hassan, and Cr. Nathenea MacRae. In particular:
* Our Mayor for his speech at the Dawn Service.
* Councillor Ash-Lee Johnson for your reading of the second stanza of "Wind over my grave" and laying of wreaths at Greenmount.
* Cr Belinda Hassan for your speech at the morning service.
The week of ANZAC Day sees sub-branch members present in our three local schools of Homebush State School, Walkerston State School, and St John's Catholic Primary School Walkerston for Postcards of Honour and their ANZAC commemorative services. We have strong links with these schools - staff, students, and families alike and we are appreciative of those. For Walkerston State School, the facilities support on the day, the recorder band, and that of the P&C is greatly appreciated - thank you Jacinta Mary. The support of North Eton State School for our Greenmount Service is awesome and greatly appreciated, especially the wreaths - thank you Geraldine Greggery Parkes!
The services themselves involved several individuals whose part of each service made them brilliant.
* Peter Luscombe - the great nephew of George Luscombe whom the tree was planted in commemoration of.
* Annabeth Agius from North Eton State School. The reader of the first stanza of "Wind over my grave" poem at our Greenmount Service.
* Olivia Knight of Mackay State High School (Milton), singer of the Australian national anthem.
* Chloe Watson, singer of the New Zealand national anthem and Amazing Grace.
* Charlie Brennan [Julie Brennan] of Whitsunday Anglican School, for his brilliant speech on legacy.
* Maylee Hindle of Mirani State High School, for her exceptional reading of the poem "Bivouac of the dead".
The three local cadet units were represented again this year. Our thanks to 122 Army Cadet Unit Mackay Region and 105 (City of Mackay) Squadron of 1Wing - Australian Air Force Cadets for contingents on the day. For TS Pioneer - Current Cadets/Parents, how awesome was the catafalque party, particularly the guard commander. We are incredibly proud of their effort and service.
This year we were supported by Piper Harrison of the Mackay & District Pipe Band for all three services. A brilliant young man who delivered exactly as we had hoped with panache, style, and a little bit of deep breath flexibility!
Our bugler, Rob Nicolai, on note, in the moment - thank you.
The Mackay Tiger Moth Museum flyover - simply brilliant and a beautiful day for it.
The community breakfast is a combination of many things - Duke of Edinburgh Hotel [our awesome hosts], Walkerston Country Meats and Seafood [donators of the awesome snags], and the Walkerston Cricket Club [cooks with a smile]. Thank you to you all - nom nom!
Some sub-branch members that need to be called out:
* Peter J Gaudry - coordinator of portable PA systems, marches, guards, and herder of cats. Also, the asker of those pertinent questions that keep the day running!
* Gail Clark - super dooper treasurer and sorter of wreaths, payer of bills, and our lateral thinker that reminds us of what is important.
* Doug Clark - brilliant flag orderly, a job no-on wants 'cos if the flag goes the wrong way everyone knows. Touch wood Dougie!
* Daniel Peters - Dan, the man! The organiser, the gardener, the call maker, the doer, the everything man. Dan is the Man! And also, to Dan's family who help make the day superb and march/stand alongside Dan, honouring him in many ways.
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