Every year I receive tremendous feedback about Bargara’s ANZAC Day Dawn Service and the Gunfire Breakfast. What many wouldn’t realise though is that some 40 volunteers give their time in the very early hours of the morning to make it all happen and many have done so for the past 17 years. These are people who don’t consider their contribution as a task but rather as an honour and it’s only fitting that they be recognised.
Again, since the first Service in 1997 the Bargara Beach Hotel, Bundaberg Rum, Bundaberg Brewed Soft Drinks, Bundaberg & District RSL, Burnett Shire/Bundaberg Regional Councils, Coastline Realty, Bargara Golf Club & Bargara Bowls Club have all been annual supporters for the event with many others contributing along the way.
This year we were extremely pleased to receive significant sponsorship from Bargara Palm Lake Resort and The Friendlies Society Private Hospital with a recurrent commitment until the Gallipoli Centenary in 2015. These funds, together with the ongoing support of local businesses and gold coin donations at the breakfast have secured the future of the event for years to come. Indeed, they have enabled us to seriously consider ways in which we can improve the event whilst maintaining the unique solemnity of the early morning Service at what has to be one of the most idyllic coastline locations.
On behalf of our returned servicemen & women and their families together with the wider community, I’d like to say a big ‘Thank You’ to everyone involved.