Mooloolaba Surf Life Saving Club and The Surf Club Mooloolaba have announced its Anzac Day Dawn Service will be held at 5am on Thursday 25 April.
MSLSC welcomes the local community to share in this emotional remembrance service in a moving tribute that acknowledges former and currently serving servicemen and women from Australia and New Zealand.
The Anzac Day Dawn Service will include the traditional Last Post, with the Mooloolaba Surf Boats Raised Oar Salute during the one-minute silence.
In a solemn and breathtaking symbolic act of remembrance, as the sun rises over the water, boat crews will paddle out, laying wreaths of native Australian flowers and then raise their oars to the haunting sounds of the Last Post.
The Last Post will accompany a lone horseman from the 2nd Light Horse Regiment – Woombye Troop galloping along the beach. The ceremony also includes retired Defence Force veterans leading the Anzac Day ceremony and Ode, Sunshine Coast Grammar School Bel Canto Choir, and a Didgeridoo solo performance by Peter Tilney.
New Zealand servicemen and women will be honoured with a local Māori Haka and the New Zealand national anthem sung by Graham Stewart. The Nipper children of currently serving and ex-servicemen and women will lay the 12 wreaths representing Australia and New Zealand’s past campaigns, wars, peacekeeping missions, and nurses.
MSLSC president Matthew Horder said, “ANZAC Day at Mooloolaba Beach embodies the essence of remembrance and unity.”
“From the hauntingly beautiful melodies of the Sunshine Coast Grammar School Bel Canto Choir to the powerful Māori Haka, every element pays homage to the courage and sacrifice of our soldiers.
“With the solemn salute of the lone horseman, the raised Oar Salut, and the poignant notes of the Last Post, we stand together to honour those who gave everything for our nation.
“Let us gather as a community, bound by gratitude and respect, to commemorate the unwavering dedication of our servicemen and women, past and present.”
The event will mark the 15th year that a service has been held at Mooloolaba Beach, providing locals and visitors with an opportunity to honour and reflect on the sacrifices made by so many brave men and women.
Air Vice Marshal Peter Yates (Retd), AM, CSC, who will be the MSLSC ANZAC Day Master of Ceremonies, said, “As the ANZAC Day event grows each year, we have taken significant steps to improve the audio and vision quality at our ANZAC Day ceremony with more speakers and an additional screen.”
“Our team has worked tirelessly to ensure that the entire service is audible to everyone, regardless of their location in the crowd.
“If you can’t attend the service at Mooloolaba Beach, 91.1 Hot FM radio will be broadcasting the ceremony live across the Sunshine Coast from 5 am.”
Anzac Day Dawn Service at Mooloolaba Beach is on Tuesday 25 April at 5am.
Veterans who wish to march are to assemble in the southern club car park, ready for step off at 4:55am.
Attendees are advised to arrive by 4:55am for a 5am start.
