Anzac Day Services return

Tumut High alumni, Navy Commodore Rachel Durbin, will be the guest speaker at this year’s Tumut Anzac Day Commemoration.

Anzac Day services return to Tumut this Sunday, after a year’s hiatus due to the coronavirus.

The traditional dawn service at 6am at Richmond Park will be followed at 10.30am by the march down Wynyard and Russell Streets ahead of the main service at the park.

Tumut RSL Sub-branch president Robert Watson stressed that the ceremonies and parade will be conducted under Covid-19 guidelines.

“Covid marshalls will be deployed to assist with registrations and social distancing,” Mr Watson said. “QR code and registration sheets will be available and registration is compulsory  – QR registrations are preferable.”

The guest speaker this year will be Commodore Rachel Durbin (nee Clarke) CSC RAL, who grew up in Tumut and attended Tumut High.

The day will begin with the increasingly popular dawn service at the Cenotaph, with Tumut schools to feature. Military bag-piper Ewen McLachlan and bugler Adam Farquarson will participate.

Mr Watson reminded ex-service personnel and participants in that service to Covid-register, and that can be done near the Cenotaph from 5.30am.

Rotary will be supplying bacon and egg rolls in the park at the conclusion of the dawn service.

Later in the morning, the Anzac Day March will begin from the Tumut Fire Station, with marchers asked to assemble from 10am for the 10.30am start. Mr Watson stressed once more that participants in the march must Covid register prior to the march and can do so from 10am near the fire station.

Tumut Aero Club, which has included many local ex-servicemen over the years, will conduct a fly-over to signal the start of the March.

Mr Watson said relatives of deceased veterans are welcome to participate – one relative for one deceased veteran – and medals should be worn on the right side. Those participants are asked to assemble in front of the CWA rooms, for placement at the front of the parade.

Vehicles carrying disabled veterans, including our remaining World War II vets – Col Hoad, Ray Back, Wal Hall and Peter Carberry – will lead the march.

As a tribute to the original Anzacs, the march will include mounted and marching members of the Light Horse Re-enactment Group.

The Town Band will lead the official party, including Commodore Durbin, Mr Watson and the Tumut RSL sub-branch executive, and Tumut Police. Lindsay Dobbie will be the parade marshall.

The Anzac Day contingent will comprise of men and women who have served, or are still serving, in the Australian and Allied Defence forced on active service, or with the Peacekeeping and Border Protection Units.

Also included are those who served in the Regular, Reserve and National Service components of the Defence Force and have contributed to the Nation’s Security.

Tumut Schools, Scouts and Girl Guides will be participating in all Anzac Day ceremonies and the march.

The main service is due to begin at the Cenotaph from 10.40am, with the Guard mounted by soldiers from 1/19 RSNSWR.

The service will commence with the symbolic placing of Military Hats from the three Services.
Official wreath laying by schools, organisations and members of the public will follow. They must Covid-register to be involved. This can be done from 10am near the Cenotaph and should be done prior to the service beginning.
It’s expected Sounds of the Mountains will again broadcast the service.
The traditional Anzac Day lunch will be held at the Tumut Golf Club from midday, with ticket holders only for the lunch. There’ll be no ticket sales on the day – tickets are available from the Golf Club or RSL sub-branch office, and close 5pm today (Friday).
2-up will begin at the Golf Club from 2.30pm.
Disabled veterans requiring transport should contact Robert Watson (0477 201 031) by midday Saturday, while the Golf Club courtesy bus will run a shuttle service for veterans after the Service to the Golf Club.
Commodore Rachel Curbin CSC, RAN
Commodore Durbin grew up in Tumut and joined the Royal Australian navy in 1993 through the Australian Defence Force Academy as a marine engineer.
She spent her sea-time aboard HMAS Ships Westralia, Anzac, Canberra and Perth, deployed on operations in the Persian Gulf, conducting exercises in North and South East Asia, fisheries operations in the Southern Ocean and border protection off northern Australia.
Since her promotion to Captain in 2013, she has enjoyed strategic roles within the Rizzo Reform Program, Major Surface Ships Sustainment (CASG) and most recently in Navy Capability Division as the Director Future Force Lifecycle Engineering. As Director Anzac System Progress office, she was responsible for the sustainment of the Anzac Class Frigates. She has also served within the Navy Leadership and Culture Program and Navy Workforce Management responsible for engineering workforce requirements and remediation.
She was recently promoted to Commodore and has assumed the role of Director General Engineering of the Navy in February.
Commodore Durbin was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross in 2013. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering (mechanical), Master in Engineering Management, Master in Arts in Strategy and Management, is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology.
She is also a graduate of both the Australian Command and Staff Course and the Defence Strategic Studies Course, and recently participated in the Halifax international Security Forum – Peace with Women Fellowship, which advances women’s leadership in international security affairs.
She is married to Scott and mother to two active children. She enjoys camping and skiing with family, and the relentless pursuit of children’s sport every weekend. Scott himself was a former Naval office.
Commodore Durbin will visit her former school, Tumut High, and address Years 11 and 12 today (Friday).
TALBINGO
The Talbingo Anzac Day ceremony will commence at 6.30am at the Cenotaph in Miles Franklin Park on Sunday, April 25. All welcome. A light breakfast will follow the ceremony at the Talbingo Country Club.
BATLOW
Batlow’s Anzac Day services will be limited to a Dawn Service to be held at 6am sharp at the cenotaph at Memorial Park. Batlow RSL Sub-Branch are also encouraging local residents to hold candle or torch light vigils in their driveways and/or front porches at dawn.
ADELONG
The Adelong annex of Tumut RSL Sub-Branch are encouraging local residents to do the same as they will not be having a conventional service in the town.
They are also encouraging residents to lay wreaths, poppies or rosemary sprigs at the cenotaphs in Memorial Park and the Services and Citizens Club.

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