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The Kingscliff RSL (NSW) Sub-Branch Committee would like to remind members they will be selling badges for Remembrance Day.
Remembrance Day Badges Available
100 Years of AnzacSpecial Services will be conducted to celebrate the Centenary of Anzac at:
Cudgen 4:28am
Kingscliff 5:59am
Kingscliff 10:30am
Lest We ForgetA full service will be conducted at the cenotaph at Marine Parade Kingscliff at 10.30am on Tuesday 11th November followed by a luncheon at the Cudgen Leagues Club in Wommin Bay Road.
All veterans/spouses/carers/family/partners and members of the community are welcome. Bookings for lunch are essential.
The guest speaker for Remembrance Day is to be announced and Kayla Wright will again be our bugler.
We hope you can join us!
| Event | Date | Location |
| RSL & Schools Remember ANZAC | 9 April 11:30am | ANZAC Memorial |
| Kapyong Service | 12 April 2:00pm | 113 AGH Memorial Chapel, Concord Hospital |
| ANZAC Sunday | 13 April | Various sub-Branches |
| ANZAC Day Service | 24 April 10:30am | Kokoda Track Walkway |
| Kapyong Day | 24 April | Various RSL sub-Branches |
| ANZAC Dawn Service | 25 April 4:30am | Cenotaph, Martin Place |
| ANZAC Day March | 25 April 9:00am | George Street, Sydney |
| ANZAC Day Commemoration Service | 25 April 12:30pm | ANZAC Memorial |
| Sunset Service | 25 April 5:00pm | Cenotaph, Martin Place |
| VE Day | 8 May 11:00am | Cenotaph, Martin Place |
| Centaur Service | 12 May 10:30am | 113 AGH Memorial Chapel, Concord Hospital |
| Boer War Day Memorial Service | 25 May 11:00am | ANZAC Memorial |
| Indigenous Veterans Commemoration Service | 30 May 11:00am | ANZAC Memorial |
| Reserve Forces Day National Parade | 6 July 11:00am | Hyde Park/Macquarie Street, Sydney |
| Battle of Fromelles Commemoration Service | 19 July 10:45am | ANZAC Memorial |
| VP Day | 15 August 11:00am | Cenotaph, Martin Place |
| VP Day | 15 August 2:00pm | Kokoda Track Walkway |
| Vietnam Veterans Day Commemoration Service | 18 August 10:30am | Cenotaph, Martin Place |
| Vietnam Veterans Day Service | 19 August 10:30am | 113 AGH Memorial Chapel, Concord Hospital |
| Merchant Navy Day | 3 September | Various RSL sub-Branches |
| Battle for Australia Commemoration Service | 3 September 11:00am | Cenotaph, Martin Place |
| Battle for Britain Commemoration Service | 15 September 10:30am | Cenotaph, Martin Place |
| United Nations Day | 24 October 11:00am | Cenotaph, Martin Place |
| Kokoda Day Flag Raising Ceremony | 3 November 10:30am | Kokoda Track Walkway |
| Remembrance Day Service | 11 November 10:14am | Cenotaph, Martin Place |
| Remembrance Day Service | 11 November 10:30am | 113 AGH Memorial Chapel, Concord Hospital |
2014 Commemorations
The President and members of the Kingscliff RSL Sub Branch (NSW) welcomes all members of the veteran community, their partners/carers and all members of the general public to attend the 99th Anniversary of ANZAC and a luncheon later in the club rooms.
Services will include;
- A dawn service at the war memorial at Cudgen Primary School at 4.28am with a march at 4.10am
- A dawn service at the Kingscliff cenotaph at 5.59am with a short march at 5.50am
- A Gunfire Breakfast at the Kingscliff Beach and Bowls Club at 7am - all veterans free, public welcome
- A march, service and wreath laying at the Kingscliff cenotaph at 10.30am. March forms up at the Bowls Club at 10.20am. Cars available for those who can't march
Bookings for lunch are essential by Tuesday 22nd April
ANZAC Day 2014
We will be conducting services at Cabarita Bowls and Sports Club on Saturday 19th April, Cudgen Public School (Date to be confirmed), Wommin Bay (Feros) Village Nursing home on 24th April, Kingfisher RSL Day Club on 28th April and Bogangar Public School on 2nd May.
Anzac Day March 2013Anzac Day 2013 fully justified all the time and planning apportioned for such a worthy day. Badge sales were magnificent indicating the amount of care and involvement provided by the local community. The provision of two fully restored World War II American Jeeps by Norm Barnett and six fully restored retro vehicles provided by the Tweed River Car Restorer's Club added colour, depth and mobility to our march.
The Cudgen Dawn service although threatening some early showers set the scene for a wonderful day. Over 100 people attended the march and laid floral tributes at each of the memorial trees. The marchers then joined the other 250 who had gathered for the 4.28am service. LCMDR Scott Squires RAN delivered the Anzac Day Dawn address and the students of the Cudgen Primary School recited "In Flanders Fields".
Teachers and students of Kingscliff High School combined to provide an extremely moving and well attended Dawn Service at Kingscliff. Over 600 heard the Vice Captains recite 'A Dawn Service' and the Schools Captain provide the keynote address.
Even these two wonderful preludes could not prepare the veteran community for the amazing turn out of people that lined the road and attended the service at 11am. The numbers marching exceeded all expectations and there was plenty of vehicles to transport those that were unable to march. The crowd of 3000 listened to an outstanding Anzac Day address provided by Commodore Nick Helyer and showed their appreciation for the 'Melody Makers' choir singing rousing renditions of both the New Zealand and Australian national anthems. An outstanding day was completed by over 160 attending the Anzac Day luncheon.
Anzac Day March 2013
Click here to download the flyerThis year's theme is "Physical Activity - Fitness, Strength, Flexibility, and Balance".
Physical activity participation is good for health. There is an appropriate type and amount of physical activity for each and every person.
- Find the Strength
- Develop the Flexibility
- Maintain the Balance
- Enjoy the Fitness
* 9am—coffee and a biscuit * 9.30am—Instruction * 10am— Light Contest * 12noon—Barbecue Lunch
Bowls will be provided—dress: neat casual — No prior knowledge required. Please Book
Click here to download the flyerPlease join us on this special day. We will provide morning tea at 10.30am and at 11am Belinda Marsden-Smedley will provide us with an outline of QIMR, its key research areas and recent scientific developments.
The range of Belinda's presentation will include information on conditions such as cancers, infectious diseases and mental health. Belinda will include brief descriptions of recent studies into tropical diseases and their current state of development.
Questions are encouraged and our session will conclude with lunch downstairs.
Vouchers will be issued for lunch but booking is essential to assist with catering.
Please join us and enjoy this unique presentation.
Anzac Day Services 2013The following range of commemoration services will be held in 2013;
- Sunday 21st April: A service will be held at the Cabarita Bowls and Sports Club at 8am - guest speaker will be LT Ashley Baldry RAInf
- Thursday 25th April: 4.10am march will begin from Clarke Street Cudgen followed by a full dawn service at 4.28am. Guest speaker will be LCDR Scott Squires RAN
- 5.59am a short march will be conducted from Turnock Street to the cenotaph in Kingscliff where a full dawn service will be conducted. Guest speakers will be the Male and Female Captains of the Kingscliff High School
- 7am a 'gunfire breakfast' will be served free for all service or ex-service members and at a very moderate price for the public at the Kingscliff Beach and Bowls Club
- Cars will be provided at 9.45am at the Cudgen Leagues Club or at the start of the march (outside the Bowls Club) at 10am for those unable to march. These vehicles will commence to move forward at 10.10am
- 10.30am march will commence from the Kingscliff Beach and Bowls Club
- 11am the main service will be held at the Kingscliff cenotaph in Marine Parade. Guest speaker will be CDRE Nick Helyer RAN (Retired)
- An Anzac Day lunch will be held at the Cudgen Leagues Club in Wommin Bay Road Chinderah. This luncheon is open to all at a cost of $25 which will include some drinks. Booking is absolutely essential (phone 02 6674 1977)
$2 Commemorative Poppy CoinA special $2 coin bearing a red poppy has been produced to commemorate the wartime sacrifice of Australian service personnel.
It is the first coloured coin produced by the Australian Mint and only 500,000 being made.
The red poppy coin is being distributed by the RSL for a donation of about $10.
There will also be a non-coloured version and both are legal tender.
Brisbane soldier Lance Corporal Owen Perry, who has lost 16 mates in Afghanistan over the last two years, says it is important Australians support the 2012 Poppy Appeal.
Lance Corporal Perry spoke at the Appeal launch in Brisbane's Anzac Square today where crosses were placed in the Field of Remembrance.
He says every dollar helps when people buy a poppy or a commemorative coin from a soldier over the next few weeks.
"Just approach them with a smile, just walk up them and say gidday," he said.
"Just say thank you as well - we're out there just trying to raise awareness for everything that's going on and we're like every other person.
Joe attending the Remembrance Day service in 2011Kingscliff this week lost one of its greats, with the passing of long-time RSL head Joe Peoples.
"Joe Peoples' name has been synonymous with Returned Servicemen's League activities since he moved to the local community in 1981," current Kingscliff RSL sub branch vice president Brian Vickery said.
"He, with limited assistance, resurrected an old RSL Hall in Kingscliff and rejuvenated the veteran and public attitude towards Anzac Day and Remembrance Day from that day until his retirement as President of the Kingscliff Sub Branch in 2006. Joe almost singlehandedly organized and conducted these major events.
"Joe and his wife Valerie encouraged a stronger Women's Auxiliary within the Sub Branch and worked tirelessly to ensure that they remained strong and, above all, financially viable.
"He assisted by picking up elderly ladies to attend monthly bingo, delivering the food for afternoon tea and calling the bingo numbers.
"He was active in Legacy, Rotary and a constant attendee at VIEW Club meetings. He always made himself available at schools for discussions with the students prior to Anzac Day and Remembrance Day and in 2007 featured in a short film which encouraged the use of school children in its production.
"Each year Joe was invited to attend the Presentation Night of the Brunswick Surf Life Saving Club as one of its foundation members."
Born on June 1, 1924, Joe joined the Royal Australian Navy on September 1, 1942, was a WWII veteran and was discharged on February 18 1946, continuing on as reserve until 1963 when he then joined the Army Reserve until 1979.
In May 1969 Keith Payne was commanding the 212th Company of the 1st Mobile Strike Force Battalion when it was attacked by a strong North Vietnamese force. His company was isolated and surrounded on three sides.
Payne's Vietnamese 1roops began to fall back. Payne, by now wounded in the hands and anna and under heavy fire, covered 1he withdrawal before organising his troops Into a defensive perimeter. He then spent three hours scouring the scene of the day"s fight for Isolated and wounded soldiers, all the while evading the enemy who kept up regular fire. He found some forty wounded men, brought some In himself and organised the rescue of the others, leading the party back to base through enemy dominated terrain. For this action Keith Payne was awarded the Victoria Cross.
Keith Payne VC
SAPPER Rowan Robinson - RIPSAPPER Rowan Robinson will never return to Kingscliff, but he will always be remembered there as a lovable hero and a man who served his country with honour.
Sapper Robinson suffered a gunshot wound on Monday when a partnered special operations task group and Afghan National Security Forces team was engaged by insurgents.
He received immediate first-aid and was flown to the hospital facility at Multi National Base Tarin Kowt, but later died of his wounds.
Sapper Robinson was a 23-year-old specialist combat engineer from the Sydney-based Incident Response Regiment.
As a well-known athlete, exceptional student and member of the Cudgen Headland Surf Live Saving Club, Sapper Robinson left his mark on the seaside community.
Past and present teachers of Kingscliff High School, from which he graduated in 2005, remembered him as a well-liked student.
Retired Kingscliff High School teacher and Robinson family friend, John Waide, said the boy he watched grow up always knew he was destined to be a soldier.
"He was always a likable chap and he played football for us at school, he was an outstanding sportsman and a champion lad," Mr Waide said.
"You always expect the brave and bold to give us their best and that was Rowan.
"My youngest son Luke was really good mates with him. It's disbelief everybody is feeling because he was so good at everything he did.
"He was looking forward to hopefully coming home in August. To finish an engineering degree."
Mr Waide said Rowan's friends were shattered by the news of his death, but remembered him as a hero.
"We are all very proud of him. I have nothing but respect for Rowan and what he stood for," Mr Waide said.
"He was a cheeky sort of lad in some ways, the girls all loved him. After his mum and dad moved to Townsville we would still see him and right from Year 11 he knew he was in the Army. He always knew that's what he wanted to do."
Kingscliff High School vice-principal Stuart Cutcher added to the tributes.
"I would like to express my sympathies and condolences to Rowan's family and friends at his passing," Mr Cutcher said.
"He was extremely well liked by students and teachers alike and he made wonderful contributions to our reputation."
Kingscliff RSL sub-branch vice-president and Cudgen Headland Surf Club member Brian Vickery said the whole community was mourning.
"I can verify the feeling of sadness in the community today. I have been talking to many people who knew him and they are in disbelief by this tragic incident," Mr Vickery said.

