Community
At the heart of our club
ANZAC Day
THURSDAY, 25 APRIL 2024
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
Poppies initiative
Inaugurally, the central section of River Street will be beautified by tribute flags and handmade poppy wreaths, initiated by the Rotary Satellite Club of Ballina Lifestyle.
Crocheted poppies will be available for purchase and can be displayed on the commemorative ANZAC structure at Ballina RSL
The red poppy is a symbol of remembrance of those who died or suffered in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping. Canadian Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae first described the red poppy, the Flanders’ poppy, as the flower of remembrance.
Read more about this fantastic initiative here.
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.
Purchase Commemorative ANZAC Day Poppies.
From 1 April
Purchase your ANZAC commemorative pin at Reception for $5.
Or purchase online and we will display it for you
All proceeds will go to supporting Open Arms Veterans Counselling Services.
Place Your Tribute.
From 1 April
Take a moment and make a personal tribute with a poppy on our Anzac commemorative structure.
Running Order
- Dawn Service (Open to the Public)5:30amThe 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.
- Poppy Collection / Ballina RSL Breakfast6.00amFollowing the dawn service, you can collect your poppys and join us for breakfast at the Ballina RSL club
- ANZAC March Commences10.30amThe ANZAC Day March will proceed through River Street Ballina, starting at the far end of the street moving towards 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
- Brownie’s Two-Up2:00pmJoin us for a game of two-up! Bets are placed on how two pennies thrown into the air will fall. Brownie will explain rules and 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