General News
3 May, 2025
Service Remembered
Despite showers coming and going all morning, and a lightning storm striking the Grampians in the distance, strong crowds were undeterred from showing up to this year’s Anzac Day services in Stawell and Great Western.
Despite showers coming and going all morning, and a lightning storm striking the Grampians in the distance, strong crowds were undeterred from showing up to this year’s Anzac Day services in Stawell and Great Western.
“Apart from the rain putting a bit of a dampener on things, it was [good],” said Stawell RSL president Geoff Reading.
The commemorations began in Stawell with a short dawn service at 6am at the Main Street War Memorial before a gunfire breakfast at the town hall.
At 9am, Great Western’s ANZAC Day service began at Memorial Park.
The Stawell Brass Band led a march of RSL members and ex-servicemen and pupils from Great Western Primary School.
Northern Grampians Shire Council was represented by Mayor Karen Hyslop, Deputy Mayor Justine Hide and Councillor Jack Blake, who laid a wreath at both Great Western and Stawell services.
Stawell’s main service was held at 11am, with a march, again led by members of the Stawell City Brass Band, that started from Wimmera Street before turning right down Main Street and marching towards the epitaph.
Members of the Stawell 303 Army Cadet Unit served as flag bearers and were on hand to raise the flags.
Members of the Stawell CFA also marched and laid a wreath at the memorial along with many community groups, schools and sporting clubs.
“It really was [well attended],” Mr Reading said.
“Not so much around the cenotaph, but there was a lot of people back seeking any cover they could get.
“As always it was well supported, we appreciate people so much and any visitors who were through town for the long weekend.”
Unable to find a guest speaker for the event, Mr Reading stepped up and spoke about a local, William Grant, who was a part of the Light Horse Brigade that fought in the Battle of Beersheba.
“He was a hero,” Mr Reading said.
“He was mentioned in dispatches four times … he should have been awarded a VC for his common sense thinking and turning what was disaster into something magnificent.”