Community
13 August, 2024
Mount Isa to pay tribute to service personnel at Veteran's Day service
The public is invited to attend the service on Saturday morning.
While Anzac Day is the commemorative date most associated with paying homage to returned servicemen and women, the RSL is actively encouraging locals to participate in Veterans Day on Saturday.
The day was born out of the desire among RSLs to expand Vietnam Veterans Day to include those from peacekeeping missions from the Korean War to the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Mount Isa RSL sub branch secretary Jim Nuttall said due to its transient population, it was not known the exact number of former servicemen and women currently living in the city.
He said with an increasing number of veterans joining the RSL in recent years, he hoped former military personnel would use their informal networks to encourage others to participate in events such as Veterans Day.
“We know that a lot of former soldiers prefer to speak to other soldiers about any issues they may be facing – they sometimes seem to feel more comfortable sharing things with someone who has also served,” he told North West Weekly.
“Events such as Veterans Day are an opportunity for ex-servicemen and women to gather and talk about old times. It’s a way to keep the communication channels open.”
The public is also invited to attend the service at the Mount Isa Cenotaph, which begins on Saturday at 9.45am for a 10am start. The service will be followed by a morning tea at the Bill Hilton Room at the Mount Isa Irish Club.