More than a thousand Lake Macquarie and Wangi Wangi locals braved stormy weather to pay their respects at the Wangi RSL Sub-Branch Club cenotaph on Anzac Day last year.
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The service and march, which included more than 60 historic vehicles in the procession from Puna Road to the local RSL, commemorated the memory of Australian and New Zealand troops on the 103rd anniversary of their landing at Gallipoli.
After the march, which began under heavy rain, the service in front of the Wangi RSL included the traditional last post and a minute of silence.
Ex-serviceman and women, students, SES members, police, NSW Ambulance Service members and NSW Rural Fire Service and Fire and Rescue members, as well as representatives from the Lake Macquarie City Council, were all on hand to lay wreaths at the cenotaph.
There was also a fly past by the Royal Australian Air Force, timed perfectly with a brief respite from the storms.
This year there will be about 80 World War II vehicles in the parade.
Tracy Vadnjal, of Ryhope, will provide 43 vehicles from his extraordinary personal collection, while fellow members of Newcastle Military Vehicle Club will take their own vehicles, which will boost the total number on show to 80.
Included in the parade will be Jeeps, tanks, amphibious vehicles, Bren gun carriers, motorcycles and a rare AEC Dorchester armoured command vehicle.
Last post & Wangi Wangi’s minute of silence:
Anzac Day 2019: Where to pay your respects on Thursday, April 25