Children from Greenwell Point Public School, Rural Fire Service, State Emergency Service and Marine Rescue members and the Nowra Town Band will all march at this year's Greenwell Point Anzac Day dawn service despite a defence decision to ban navy personnel from marching.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
They will of course be also joined by a number of former veterans and member of the Nowra RSL Sub-Branch, including some in their 80s and 90s, who will walk the 450 metres to Anzac Park as part of the march.
Defence on Wednesday morning confirmed Royal Australian Navy personnel would not march in this year's Greenwell Point dawn service due to safety concerns over marching in the dark.
A decision that has been widely condemned by the local community.
Read more:
However, by Wednesday afternoon Defence said Commanding Officer of HMAS Albatross Captain Fiona Sneath would meet with representatives of the Nowra RSL on Friday with a view of "finding a solution to the issue".
Around 20 Greenwell Point students are expected to take part in this year's march with the school saying there was no thought they wouldn't be taking part in the event.
Rural Fire Service members take part in the march and lay a wreath at the cenotaph, with Shoalhaven RFS district manager Superintendent Mark Williams saying he had no problems with personnel marching or attending, in fact he "fully endorsed it."
"We not only support Anzac Day and the dawn service but also the RSL in their management of the event and we provide vehicles etc wherever as required," he said.
Likewise, the State Emergency Service will continue to take part, with Nowra Unit Controller Mark Kielly saying the group would continue to have representatives present and march.
"We will be there as usual and will take part and lay a wreath," he said.
Marine Rescue lllawarra regional operation manager Bruce Mitchell said the organisation would be supporting the Greenwell Point dawn service "as usual".
"We will be undertaking traffic control and will continue as usual - it's all be planned and locked away," he said.
"We always lay a wreath at the ceremony and we have no dramas if members want to march."
The Nowra Town Band, which provides the music both for the march and throughout the dawn service, has also confirmed its members would continue to march.
Defence said HMAS Albatross would provide a guest speaker, catafalque party and flag bearers for the Greenwell Point Dawn Service.
Sign up to our newsletters
Robert Crawford
Robert Crawford is a senior journalist at the South Coast Register, for Australian Community Media . Everyone's got a story, what's yours? Email robert.crawford@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Robert Crawford is a senior journalist at the South Coast Register, for Australian Community Media . Everyone's got a story, what's yours? Email robert.crawford@austcommunitymedia.com.au
