The annual ANZAC Day march drew hundreds of people to the city last month. From 10am on April 25, families lined the streets of Wollongong, waving Australian flags to show their support for local veterans and commemorate 110 years since the Gallipoli landing.
The march proceeded from Wollongong Mall down Kembla, Burelli and Church streets, and towards McCabe Park. Veterans in vintage cars led the parade, followed by Australian Defence Force personnel, then members of Illawarra RSL, ex-service organisations and veterans’ groups, local Scouts and Girl Guides, SES and other community groups, all marching to the sound of Wollongong Citadel Band.
Six former service aircraft from the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) performed the annual tribute flyover.
After the march, a ceremony organised by the Vietnamese Community in Wollongong was held at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in MacCabe Park to commemorate 50 years since the Fall of Saigon. Lord Mayor Tania Brown, Alison Byrnes MP, Paul Scully MP and Vietnam veteran Ian Birch took part in a wreath-laying ceremony.
Teresa Tran OAM, president of the Vietnamese Community in Wollongong, thanked attendees, saying: “This monument is a reminder to all the Vietnamese that we have a huge debt to our Vietnam veterans. It will be a place where mateship and comfort can be celebrated.”
