Junee Dawn Service draws record crowd

HUNDREDS of people gathered before the sun rose in Junee on Anzac Day, forming one of the largest Dawn Service crowds the town has seen.

In the stillness of the early morning, the community assembled around the Cenotaph from 5.30am, forming a sea of solemn faces in a powerful show of remembrance.

More than 600 people attended last year’s Dawn Service, with the Junee RSL Sub-Branch saying this year’s turnout was even bigger, describing it as the largest the organisation has witnessed.

Photo: © The Junee Bulletin

Long before first light broke, Broadway had already begun to fill, with people arriving quietly in the dark to take their place for one of the most significant moments on the Anzac Day calendar.

READ MORE: Bethungra turns out in force at dawn

Silence fell across the crowd as the service began, with generations standing together, united in reflection and respect.

Among those present were over 70 recruits and staff from the training unit at RAAF Wagga, whose presence added to the ceremony and dignity of the morning.

Photo: © The Junee Bulletin

Photo: © The Junee Bulletin

The service opened with the mounting of the catafalque party, followed by a welcoming address from Junee RSL Sub-Branch President Greg Zakharoff.

This was followed by a period of silence as the song Salute was played, before Reverend David Hilliard delivered prayers for the fallen and their families.

READ MORE: Junee marches in remembrance

Wreaths were then laid at the Cenotaph, after which the Ode of Remembrance was delivered.

Photo: © The Junee Bulletin

The haunting notes of the Last Post and Reveille rang out through the still air, delivered by Junee’s veteran bugler Shane Logan, whose performance once again marked one of the most solemn moments of the service.

Father Paddy Sykes then delivered closing prayers for veterans and Australian Defence Force personnel, before the service concluded with the Australian National Anthem.

READ MORE: Junee Reefs remembers in heartfelt service

The service set a powerful tone for the day’s commemorations, with strong attendances also recorded in Bethungra and at Junee Reefs, underscoring the deep connection the Shire holds to Anzac Day and the legacy of those who served.

Photo: © The Junee Bulletin

Photo: © The Junee Bulletin

As the first light of day began to break, the crowd slowly dispersed, the silence giving way to a shared understanding of the significance of what had just been observed.

Following the service, many made their way to the Junee Ex-Services Memorial Club for the traditional gunfire breakfast, continuing a long-standing Anzac Day tradition.

Lest we forget.