General News
1 May, 2026
Communities gather for Anzac Day
Communities across Sheep Hills, Brim and Warracknabeal gathered on Anzac Day to honour past and present servicemen and women, with strong attendances at all three commemorative services.
The day began with a Dawn Service at Sheep Hills at 6.45am, followed by a service at Brim Hall at 8.45am, before the final service was held at Anzac Park in Warracknabeal at 10.45am.
Warracknabeal RSL sub-branch president Graeme Massey said the ceremonies were well supported, with guest speaker Dianne Marchment addressing all three services and speaking about her Kokoda Trail walk to raise awareness of men’s mental health and suicide prevention.
Anzac Day commemorations began with a Dawn Service at Sheep Hills at 6.45am, where a strong crowd gathered to pay tribute.
Mr Massey said the Sheep Hills service was well attended, and the morning conditions helped make it a meaningful occasion.
“It was a great morning,” Mr Massey said.
He said the service included a march, the raising of three flags and a wreath-laying ceremony.
“We had the British flag, the Australian flag and the New Zealand flag,” he said.
“Local boys raised them at the cenotaph.”
Mr Massey said the Sheep Hills ceremony was smaller than Warracknabeal’s main service, but it remained an important community commemoration.
“It was a lot smaller wreath-laying ceremony, mainly just a commemorative service based around their community, the Sheep Hills community,” he said.
He said the hall was full, with people standing around the walls as well.
“I’m not too sure on numbers, maybe 140 or 150 inside, and probably just as many who could come in,” he said.
The Anzac Day service continued at Brim Hall at 8.45am, where residents again gathered in strong numbers.
Mr Massey said the Brim ceremony also attracted a good crowd.
“Brim was very well attended again, with around 80 people present there,” he said.
He said the Brim service followed a similar format to Sheep Hills, although it did not include a march.
“It’s a very similar service, and they have theirs inside the hall, like Sheep Hills do,” he said.
“But, there’s no march.”
Mr Massey said the Brim community held a smaller wreath-laying ceremony, with local organisations and families taking part.
“They lay wreaths, again the local community wreaths, like the church and the community,” he said.
“There were family wreaths as well, commemorating names of families who served.”
He said about eight to 10 wreaths were laid during the Brim service.
The final Anzac Day service took place at Anzac Park in Warracknabeal at 10.45am, where more than 200 people gathered for the town’s main commemoration.
Mr Massey said the Warracknabeal RSL was very pleased with the turnout and the community's response throughout the service.
“We were very happy with the crowd,” he said.
“The people were very responsive to our speaker, and the ceremony went really well, as it was a nice day to have it.
“The weather was kind to us.”
More than 30 organisations and community representatives laid wreaths during the service, which Mr Massey said was likely the largest number the town had seen.
“We laid a lot of wreaths, which was more than ever,” he said.
“I think it was probably the greatest number we’ve ever laid.”
Groups and representatives on the wreath-laying list included Yarriambiack Shire Council, Warracknabeal RSL, World War I diggers, World War II veterans and Rats of Tobruk, women in the services, Vietnam Veterans Association, ADF members who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, peacekeepers, National Servicemen’s Association, Warracknabeal Legacy, emergency services, service clubs, schools, Scouts and Cubs, Girl Guides and several local community organisations.
The Warracknabeal and District Band also took part in the march, with Scouts and Guides leading with the flags.
Mr Massey said Josh Noske played the Last Post, while the flag at Anzac Park remained permanently in place.
He said the highlight of the Warracknabeal ceremony was guest speaker Dianne Marchment, who spoke about her experience walking the Kokoda Trail.
“She spoke about her experience walking the Kokoda Trail, which she did to raise awareness of men’s mental health and prevention of suicide,” he said.
After the Warracknabeal service, RSL members and the band gathered for a barbecue.
Mr Massey said the Warracknabeal RSL had about 30 members, including about six to eight veterans.
He said Anzac Day remained important for younger generations and encouraged young people to continue taking part in future commemorations.
“It’s to commemorate the service of people who’ve gone before us and who, in many cases, have given their lives so that we can enjoy the lifestyle that we’ve got now."
