By Callum Ludwig
With Anzac Day falling on the Friday after Easter, here’s where to attend your local services across the Outer East.
In the Hills:
Dandenong Ranges RSL will hold a 6.30am Dawn Service at the memorial on the corner of Sherbrooke Road and Mt Dandenong Tourist Road, Ferny Creek, which will be followed by a Gunfire Breakfast at the Ferny Creek Scouts Hall. At 10.30am, there will also be a Commemorative March and Service at the Sassafras Village Green on the corner of Mountain Highway and Mt Dandenong Tourist Road, Sassafras, including refreshments at the Sub Branch at 1773 Mountain Highway, Sassafras. Afterwards.
Upwey/Belgrave RSL will hold a 6am Dawn Service at the RSL at 1 Mast Gully Road, Upwey, which will be followed by a gunfire breakfast. There will then be a Services March from 9.45am through the main street of Upwey, starting from the IGA before the main morning service at the sub-branch at 10am. Live music, a BBQ lunch, traditional games of ‘two-up’ and screening of the Collingwood vs Essendon Anzac Day match will follow.
Anzac Day Dawn Watch at Quarry Park, Ferntree Gully will be held at 5.45am with attendees welcome to bring a torch and chair if needed.
Bayswater RSL Dawn Service, 626 Mountain Highway, Bayswater at 5.45am.
Boronia RSL Dawn Service, gather at 198 Dorset Road, Boronia at 5.45am for a 6am service, the usual Commerative March held the Sunday before Anzac Day has been cancelled this year due to Easter.
Emerald RSL Sub-Branch’s Dawn Service at Anzac Place, 3 Memorial Avenue, Emerald at 5am with breakfast provided. A march will also be held from 10am at The Cenotaph in the town centre with a 10.30am service to follow.
Kalorama will hold a 9am Commemorative Service at the Peace Memorial, located at Ellis Jeeves Reserve on Mt Dandenong Tourist Road in Kalorama.
Monbulk RSL will host 5.45am Dawn Service at the sub-branch at 48 Main Road, Monbulk as well as a 9.45am Commemorative March starting from St George’s Church, Monbulk and ending back at the RSL for a 10.00am Commemorative Service.
In the Valley:
Wandin’s Commemorative Service hosted by the Rotary Club of Wandin will be held again at 8.30am at the Wandin Cenotaph on the corner of Hunter Road and Beenak Road.
The restored Seville War Memorial will host its 5.45am Dawn Service with a free community breakfast provided.
Yarra Junction’s Dawn Service hosted by the Upper Yarra RSL will start at 6am sharp at the Yarra Junction Cenotaph near the Yarra Centre with attendees asked to arrive and be settled in by 5.45am to reduce interruption to the service. For the march later in the morning, attendees are asked find a spot on Main Street from 10am before it steps off from the Commonwelath bank at 10.30am, where the march will proceed to the Cenotaph for the Morning Service at around 10.45am.
Millgrove’s Dawn Service will be held at Millgrove Memorial Park from 6am with car parking available at Millwarra Primary School and a gunfire breakfast at the Wesburn/Millgrove CFA.
Warburton will have a Commemorative Parade, assembling at Warburton RSL from 10.15am, at 10.40am followed by a Commemorative Service at the Cenotaph on Warburton Highway, Warburton at about 10.50am.
There will be a 5.45am Dawn Service at Healesville RSL on Maroondah Highway followed by Gunfire Breakfast. There will also be a 10.00am Commemorative March, which will assemble at 9.30am at the corner of Maroondah Highway and Church Street, and then a 10.30am Morning Service at the Healesville Memorial Hall.
Yarra Glen will have a Commemorative March, assembling outside the Yarra Glen Police Station at 10.00am and commencing at 10.15am followed by a Commemorative Service at the Cenotaph, 18 Anzac Avenue, Yarra Glen at 10.30am.
In the Urban areas:
There will be a 5.45am Dawn Service at the Lilydale Cenotaph, with attendees asked to assemble at 5.30am, followed by refreshments at the Lilydale RSL in Anderson St.
Mt Evelyn will also hold a 5.45am Dawn Service at Mt Evelyn War Memorial Park on the corner of Wray Crescent and Birmingham Road.
There will be a 10.00am Commemorative Service at the Montrose Memorial on Mt Dandenong Tourist Road, Montrose
Mooroolbark will host a 12pm Commemorative service in Hookey Park on Charles Streeet, followed by refreshments and sausage sizzle put on by the scouts.
Croydon RSL asks attendees of their Dawn Service to arrive at the Croydon War Memorial at 5.30am for a 5.45am start with a gunfire breakfast afterwards at the RSL at 1 Civic Square, Croydon.
