A TOWN REMEMBERS: 1500-strong crowd marks Anzac Day in Junee

STEP by step, name by name – Today, Junee did more than remember — it bore witness.

From the first light of dawn to the quiet reflection of afternoon, the community came together to honour the courage, sacrifice and service of Australia’s military men and women — past and present.

At the heart of the day was Junee’s main Anzac Day service, where an estimated 1,500 people gathered to reflect, remember and pay their respects—forming a sea of solemn faces around the Cenotaph.

Children stood shoulder-to-shoulder with veterans. Families lined the footpaths.

© The Junee Bulletin

© The Junee Bulletin

Locals young and old watched silently as 108 white crosses lined the lawn — each one representing a life lost from the Junee district during World War I.

This year also marked the 110th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings, an event which forged the legend of the ANZAC’s.

As the names of the fallen were read aloud by Junee High School students, a hush fell over the crowd.

Eyes welled. Heads bowed. The silence was profound.

At 10:45am, the commemorative march stepped off, led by recruits from RAAF Wagga, followed by veterans, school groups and community members.

The parade paused briefly at Railway Square for a wreath-laying at the railway workers’ memorial, before continuing to the Cenotaph under a clear blue sky.

© The Junee Bulletin

© The Junee Bulletin

In a heartfelt address, Acting Mayor Marie Knight reflected on her recent visit to Gallipoli, describing it as a deeply personal journey that left her with renewed appreciation for the scale of sacrifice made by the Anzacs.

“Some years back I had the privilege of visiting ANZAC Cove. I did not expect the experience to have the emotional impact it did and to this day be as vivid a memory as it is,” she said.

A powerful moment followed as Lieutenant Colonel Dan Swale of the New Zealand Defence Force recited The Ode — first in Māori, then in English — reminding all of the enduring ties that bind the Anzac spirit across oceans and generations.

This year’s keynote speaker, Bridget James, delivered an unforgettable tribute to her great-grandfather, Sergeant Percy “Jim” Smith, a Junee man who perished as a prisoner of war during World War II.

Bridget James | © The Junee Bulletin

Captured during the fall of Singapore, SGT Smith was forced into slave labour on the Thai-Burma Railway. He died just days before the POW camp’s liberation — one of thousands of Australians lost in captivity.

In her address, Ms James read from her ancestor’s wartime diary, recounting his final days, and shared her own pilgrimage with her father to Thailand and Myanmar — where they became the first in their family to visit his grave.

Her story honoured not only her great-grandfather, but the many who endured the brutalities of war and never returned.

As the service drew to a close, wreaths were laid by local leaders, schools, community groups, emergency services and members of the public, each tribute laid with quiet respect.

Local talent Harriet Corbett closed the service with a stirring four-minute rendition of “I Am Australian” — her powerful vocals bringing many in the crowd to tears as they echoed across Broadway, capturing the pride, unity, and emotion of the day.