ANZAC Day commemoration in Barraba

BARRABA ANZAC DAY SERVICE 2025 –          Friday 25 April

A large crowd assembled in perfect weather to remember those men and women who gave their lives in service of their country. A large group, led by Australian Navy Sub Lieutenant Mitch Austin, of Veterans and their family representatives, of other community service groups, and many children from all our schools, marched along Queen Street to the Memorial Clock, where the formal Remembrance Ceremony took place.

Veteran Bill Crowley, from our local RSL Sub-Branch, chaired the proceedings. After wreaths had been laid, and the formal remembrance ceremony had taken place (the “Last Post” and “Reveille” were played by Barraba Band stalwart Phil Hodges), the formal Address was given by Sub Lieutenant Mitch Austin. Mitch, based in Western Australia with the Australian Navy, returned to his childhood home for Friday’s ceremony. He spoke of his gratitude of being invited to be part of today’s proceedings, of his memories of the Anzac Day gatherings when he was a child, and urged those present to continue to honour those men and women who gave their lives in the quest of peace and justice.

ANZAC DAY STATEMENT

ANZAC Day message from Barnaby Joyce, Member for New England and Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs:

Firstly, on behalf of a grateful nation, I thank those individuals who have signed on the dotted line to offer their lives for the protection of our country. 

To the families, who also pay the price of the dislocation and loneliness that happens when another member of their family makes a sacrifice attached to our nation's service, we thank you. 

To those families whose forbears have served and made the sacrifice, we thank you. 

Today, I am at the Australian War Memorial for the official National Service, which is an incredible honour but has taken me away from the participation of services in the New England and the Upper Hunter. 

I would sincerely like to thank all of you who attended services; your actions show that the service and sacrifice of others were not in vain and are not forgotten. 

Lest We Forget.