Inaugural dawn service for Woorinen

The Woorinen RSL will host an Anzac Day dawn service for the first time this year.

Committee member Neil Selleck said the service would be a very special occasion.

“The RSL have held 11am services in the past, but we haven’t done so for 30 years,” Mr Selleck said.

Held in conjunction with the Woorinen Football Club, the service will begin at 6am at the Woorinen World War Two Memorial Gates.

Guest speakers at the service will include Captain Cade Groat, who is a serving member of the Australia Defence Force, and Woorinen RSL president Harold Heslop.

Representatives from Woorinen District Primary School will be one of the community groups to lay down flowers and wreaths at the service.

Mr Selleck said he thought the time was right to start holding services.

“The RSL committee used to meet at the Woorinen Football Netball clubrooms, which were destroyed in a fire last year,” he said.

“We lost all our memorabilia in the fire, including our honour roll.

“Now the new building at the club is almost ready, we felt it was time to hold a service once again.

“I hope it helps bring the community closer together.”

Founded in 1947, the Woorinen RSL has been a pillar of the closeknit community which tragically lost 19 servicemen during World War Two.

Having been enlisted to the Australian Defence Force himself as a First National Serviceman, Mr Selleck said the service would be a very special occasion for the town.

“It will be especially emotional for the ancestors of the Hutchins boys,” he said.

“Seven sons went away to World War Two and only three returned.

“When you see their names on the main gate, they really stand out.”

People are encouraged to arrive at the Woorinen Recreation Reserve at 5.45am on Anzac Day for a 6am start.

Breakfast will be served after the service at the Woorinen Football Club.

To read more about this story, grab a copy of Friday’s Guardian (April 21).