WAR veterans Colin Robertson, 99, and John Imrie, 98, the last known servicemen from WWII in the Woolgoolga district, attended the Anzac Day ceremony at their local Diggers Club.
Both volunteered to join the armed forces at 18 years of age.
Colin saw active service in the Pacific while John had almost completed his Air Force training when the war came to an end.
Joining their local Anzac parade, Colin marched from Woolgoolga Post Office to the Diggers Club while John presented a wreath on behalf of the Woolgoolga branch of the Australian Labor Party.
“I was very impressed with the crowd that turned out for this year’s Anzac Day service, particularly the number of school children and especially given the very unpleasant weather,” Mr Imrie said.
“It was great to see so many students from Corindi Public School.
“For the last few years, I have been invited to talk to the school about Anzac Day where I use the opportunity to emphasise the futility of war,” he said.
Both men are already looking forward to next year’s Anzac Day commemoration at Woolgoolga as they hope it will be at the new War Memorial on the foreshore near the surf club.
This new structure will be based around Woolgoolga’s original memorial, which is being enhanced to recognise all conflicts involving Australians, including all those that have occurred since the Second World War.
By Andrea FERRARI
