Brunswick community come together to pay respects to service men and women who went overseas and didn’t return

The Brunswick community will come together on Anzac Day to pay their respects to service men and women who went overseas and didn’t return — including those servicemen who have been honoured in our Avenue of Honour. It was 32 years ago when Ron Jones, the postmaster at the time, said the Brunswick Fire Brigade — as it was then called — had new uniforms and it would be nice to wear them on an Anzac Day march in our town. We contacted the late John Hogan to check protocol and we held a service at the memorial gates with 82 adults and children attending. For the 20 years Brunswick was in recess, the late Alma Catalano put a posy of flowers at the gates in memory of her late husband Jack Leonard — we continue this honour every wreath laying to ask the Leonard family to lay the first floral tribute. As numbers increased we applied for funding to erect a War Memorial, then more funding for the flower boxes. In 2014 we were able to get a grant for the Avenue of Honour for World War I soldiers, and with assistance from the Brunswick Lions Club we honoured Vietnam veterans in 2022. And on Remembrance Day in 2024 we honoured 11 World War II soldiers with another Avenue of Honour. We were most fortunate the Men’s Shed built a seat of reflection to enhance our war memorial. Early Anzac morning the Brunswick Fire and Rescue are at the memorial in their role as the Catafalque party and two of their junior members raise the flags. We sincerely appreciate Barry Rowe making those stands to hold our wreaths — this year we are expecting at least 33 floral tributes to be laid. Vietnam veteran Trevor Roberts from Brunswick will be guest speaker, and also contributing to the service will be Lyndon Edwards on the piano accompanied by the Brunswick Singers Choir. Brunswick Primary School students have spent many hours on their Anzac tribute, which will be on display in the town hall. This is one day everyone pauses to reflect on the sacrifices made for us so that we can live in our great country Australia. And I am grateful to everyone who assists on this special day in Brunswick Junction. Judy Talbot is the Master of Ceremonies at this year’s Brunswick Anzac service — the service begins at 7:20am on Friday, April 25.