Community
At the heart of our club
ANZAC Day
FRIDAY, 25 APRIL 2025
Organized by the Ballina RSL Sub-branch, this annual commemoration pays respects to the original ANZACs, as well as the men and women who have served in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping missions. The day also explores the personal stories of service personnel in past and modern conflicts.
Staying true to their rich history and values, the Ballina RSL Sub-branch will be holding the ANZAC Day Dawn & 11 am services at Memorial Park, which is adjacent to the RSL Club.
If you would like to learn more about our Dawn service or River Street march, please contact the Sub-branch or visit their website https://www.ballinarslsubbranch.org.au/.
Please note that tickets to the Ballina RSL Sub-Branch lunch are available through the Sub-Branch and available on the day
The Boardwalk will be open to the public from 6am until 2.30pm, and reopen for dinner at 6.00pm
Be a part of the commemoration
2025 Anzac Day Poppy Project
As ANZAC Day approaches, the the Rotary Satellite Club of Ballina Lifestyle, Ballina RSL Sub-Branch and Ballina RSL proudly present the annual Poppy Project, an initiative designed to pay homage to our veterans and support the families they left behind. This heartfelt project invites community members and local businesses to come together in a shared act of remembrance and support for the local War Widows Program.
Starting from Tuesday, 25 March, $5 poppies will be available for purchase at the Ballina RSL Sub-Branch and throughout the Club. Upon purchasing a poppy, participants are encouraged to pin it to the grand ANZAC letter structure in the club’s foyer, or to pin them to clothing. This striking structure serves not only as a poignant memorial within the RSL but will also be prominently displayed by the river during the ANZAC Day Services.
This year, we extend a special invitation to the Ballina business community to participate in the project by inviting one of the participating schools to decorate their shopfronts with an ANZAC theme, or creating their own ANZAC-themed display. Creativity and commemoration will merge as shops across the town showcase their respect and remembrance, adding to the solemn atmosphere of this significant day. The winning display will be announced on ANZAC Day, bringing an additional layer of community involvement and local pride to this solemn occasion.
All funds raised from the sale of poppies will directly support the War Widows Program, providing essential aid and recognition to those who have lost loved ones in service to our country. We are immensely grateful to the Rotary Satellite Club of Ballina Lifestyle for spearheading this initiative, which not only fosters community spirit but also ensures that the legacy of our veterans is kept alive and honoured.
For more information on how you can contribute or participate in the Poppy Project, please visit the Ballina RSL or Ballina RSL Sub-Branch websites. This ANZAC Day, let us stand united, wearing our poppies proudly, as we remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
The significance of the poppy
McCrae wrote a poem that has come to be known as ‘In Flanders Fields’. The poem described the poppies that marked the graves of soldiers killed fighting for their country. The red poppy has special significance for Australians as they were among the first to flower in the devastated battlefields of northern France and Belgium in the First World War. After the war, the red poppy was adopted as that emblem and has been accepted as the emblem of remembrance.
Running Order
- Dawn Service5:30amThe first commemorative event of Anzac Day is the Dawn Service at 5.30am at the Ballina cenetaph. This is about the time men of the ANZAC approached the Gallipoli beach. However, the origin is the traditional ‘stand-to’, in which troops would be woken so that by the first rays of dawn they were in position and alert, in case of an enemy attack in the eerie half-light. It is a ritual and a moment remembered by many veterans.
- Ballina RSL $5 Breakfast6.00amFollowing the dawn service, you can join us for breakfast at the Ballina RSL club
- ANZAC March Commences10.30amThe March will proceed down River Street, Ballina starting at the Courthouse and finishing at the RSL and Memorial Park.
- ANZAC Day Service11.00amThe main service will commence at Memorial Park adjacent to the Ballina RSL Club.
- Ballina RSL Lunch12.00pmJoin us for lunch at the conclusion of the ANZAC Day service
- Two-Up1pmJoin us for a game of two-up! Bets are placed on how two pennies thrown into the air will fall. The spinner will explain rules. Any persons of legal gambling age are welcome to participate.
Ballina RSL Sub-Branch
The sub-Branch administration office is located on the ground floor of the Ballina RSL Club Ltd.
Their contact details are:
Telephone: 02 6686 0133
E-mail: office@ballinasubbranch.org
Postal Address: PO Box 378 Ballina NSW 2478
The administration office is open each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 0900hrs to 1200hrs. We close over the Christmas and New Year period for four (4) weeks.
Out of hours enquiries can be made via telephone or email and will be sent to the appropriate person.
Headliners Chorus
The Headliners Chorus sings acappella in four part harmony, focusing on entertaining our audience. They’re an all women’s chorus with an extensive repertoire, we sing a variety of genres from jazz, swing, rock and pop to show tunes.
The Headliners rehearse on Monday nights at Ballina RSL from 7.00 – 9.15pm.
If you would like more information, please contact our Membership Coordinator, Tracey Ezzy on 0438 446 809 or send and email to Tracey at membershipcoordinator@headlinerschorus.info
Ballina RSL Snooker and Billiards Club
Enjoy a friendly social game or engage in competitive play, we’re opent to all Ballina RSL Snooker Club members.
Joining the snooker club costs $5 per year. For enquiries please contact ballinarslsnooker@gmail.com or SMS 0438 271 169