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ANZAC Day dawn services to rise again in East Kimberley

Stephanie SinclairThe West Australian
ANZAC Day services will be held across the Kimberley next Wednesday.
Camera IconANZAC Day services will be held across the Kimberley next Wednesday. Credit: Rourke Walsh

East Kimberley residents will be able to commemorate Anzac Day in person this year, with traditional dawn services returning following last year’s live streamed event.

The Kununurra, Wyndham and Halls Creek communities were restricted to their driveways to mark the national day of remembrance last year, with services live streamed as a COVID-19 safety measure.

RSL Kununurra sub-branch president Michael Shortland said he was looking forward to commemorations returning to traditional dawn service sites this Sunday.

Kununurra’s service will take place at 4.30am at Anzac Hill, and will be followed by a small wreath-laying service in town at 9.30am and two-up at Hotel Kununurra from midday.

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Mr Shortland said while many who marked last year’s service at their driveways may do so again, he was anticipating strong attendance at Kununurra’s service.

“A lot of people love the dawn service up there; it’s such a spectacular view during that time of the morning. I’m one for going to the top of the hill,” he said.

Meanwhile, Wyndham’s service will return to the Five Rivers Lookout atop the Bastion Range from 5.30am, while Halls Creek residents will march at 6am from the Halls Creek Caravan Park to Pioneer Park, where a dawn service will follow.

Commemorations across the North West will take place this year, but several regional RSL and councils further south in WA have opted not to run a dawn service or to operate private ceremonies, citing onerous COVID-19 restric-ions.

Western Australia’s biggest ceremony in Kings Park will be limited to 10,000 attendees.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison last week queried why limits were in place for Anzac Day services when Optus Stadium was allowed to operate at full capacity.

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