Veterans and students marched shoulder-to-shoulder during Junee’s Anzac Day commemoration.
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Junee’s sub-branch pulled out all the stops, organising fly-overs from a Spitfire and a RAAF Hornet, a bagpiper and a Commodore.
Read Commodore Miko’s address to Junee’s Anzac Day service here.
“It was very successful, it made Junee proud to have a Commodore come over and do our service for us,” RSL sub-branch president John Robertson said.
“We’ll be the envy of a lot of towns - I’m expecting phone calls asking why Junee got such a such a high-ranking officer.
“I’ve told the Commodore that I’ll say it’s because Junee’s a high-ranking town,” he joked.
Mr Robertson said the involvement of Junee’s schools was a big part of the day “because we won’t be around forever”.
Mayor Neil Smith said he believed the day was about reminding people of the dangers of war.
“People are more reflective - it’s not about glorifying war, but recognising the sacrifice to keep what we have and what we have in the community,” he said.
“It’s not just the older generation, there’s a terrific range of ages at all our services from dawn to dusk. It’s about reminding us not go to war.”
Commodore Michael Miko from the Royal Australian Navy attended three services, Junee’s dawn and morning service and then one in Junee Reefs.
With about 80 people, Commodore Miko said the Reefs was of the smaller services he had attended.
“(But) the people of Junee and Junee Reefs have been so welcoming and friendly, it shows a lot about the town,” he said.
“The natural place for the navy is the coast, so it’s nice to come inland. Many associate defence with the army so it’s nice to talk about the other options.”
