General News
24 April, 2026
Community to pause, reflect
Locals will pause and commemorate the sacrifices of Australian servicemen and women this Saturday, as Maryborough marks Anzac Day.
Commencing with the dawn service at 5.45 am, locals will gather at McLandress Square, outside Maryborough Post office. Following this, there will be a gunfire breakfast at the RSL Hall, with a gold coin donation for entry.
Later in the morning, service personnel will begin marching from the RSL Hall at 10.30 am. The morning service will commence at 10.45, with Maryborough RSL sub-branch president Wayne Sproull announcing the order of wreath laying, followed by readings and hymns by Central Goldfields Shire mayor Ben Green and speeches from Highview College and Maryborough Education Centre students.
The guest speaker on the day will be Noelle Mason, followed by the ode and the Last Post.
The ceremony will also see the return of the Ballarat cadets catafalque party.
Concluding at around 11.30 am, attendees are invited to meet for refreshments at the Highland Society immediately after.
As preparations for this Saturday’s ceremony have been finalised, Mr Sproull said he has been moved by the support in the lead up to Anzac Day.
“We’ve had really fantastic help from the community, with regards to selling the badges but also the community supporting us. Last year, the total for the Anzac Day appeal was $8300, at the end of last week, we were at about $9500,” he said.
“We had an aim to increase it by five percent and we blew that out of the water. We have had nothing but support.”
This year marks the first Anzac Day for the sub-branch’s new committee. Locals are advised if they are commemorating a family member this Anzac Day, they can become affiliated RSL members, as did the sub-branch’s new secretary Lorraine Parker.
“When I realised I could become an affiliate member, I thought ‘well, why not?’ I would have done it a long time ago if I had realised I could. My dad was in New Guinea during the war, and my grandfather was in the Middle East. So I felt very proud to represent both of those men in my life,” she said.
“So, I wanted to come on board and do what I can, where I can, and help the RSL out.”
Maryborough RSL sub-branch vice president Roy “Shady” Lane said they are continuing to welcome those who wish to honour a family member’s legacy.
“A lot of people don’t realise they can be affiliate members with the RSL, and carry on their family’s legacy. There’s a lot of young members that come around too that don’t realise they can join,” he said.
“It could be a brother, sister, grandparent.”
First responders are also eligible to be affiliate members.
For families around the district commemorating the sacrifices of their ancestors, the Maryborough RSL sub-branch said there are still crosses at the hall waiting to be reunited with family.
“People might be aware, last year we did the appeal to return crosses to families. But, we still do have a number of crosses left, and they will be at the hall on Anzac Day. If anyone wants to have a look and see whether there is a name of a cross they would like to claim, they are more than welcome to come and collect them,” Mr Sproull said.
“We just ask them for a small donation to the hall, and they can take them and do what they like ... I am happy to post them to relatives, I even had one sent to Queensland.”
Those who wish to become an affiliate RSL sub-branch member or obtain a cross, can do so by contacting Mr Sproull on 0425 872 259 or find out more on the new ‘Maryborough VIC RSL sub-branch’ Facebook page.