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THERE are major changes to Anzac Day services in Ulladulla this year, with the dawn service expected to be held in front of the Milton Ulladulla ExServos Club.
Work has started building a new memorial in front of the club after council approvals came through on Friday, following years of planning and effort.
Milton Ulladulla RSL Sub-branch president Paul Warren said he had been working with local veterans for four years discussing moving the dawn service from Kendall Cottage to the club, and finally had strong support within the veteran community including a unanimous vote at the last sub-branch meeting.
He said the club location offered “a lot more versatility”, with plans including landscaping to ensure people were better able to see all the ceremony.
There was also the option of having people watch proceedings from a balcony, and areas under cover if it was raining.
“It’s got to be better than Kendall Cottage as far as viewing is concerned,” Mr Warren said.
He said there were also safety issues at Kendall Cottage with veterans walking around in the dark, but “this ticks all the boxes”.
A memorial is being built on land the club bought from Crown Lands adjacent to the Princes Highway.
The memorial will comprise of five panels – the middle one focusing on World War I and the side panels recognising those who served in eight other conflicts including World War II, the Boer war, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War and peacekeeping duties.
However the club and sub-branch are now racing against time to try and have the memorial in place, and landscaping done, before Anzac Day.
Mr Warren said the task had been helped by a $15,000 grant secured by Federal Member for Gilmore, Ann Sudmalis.
State Member for South Coast, Shelley Hancock, had been instrumental in helping the club purchase land for the memorial, and Shoalhaven City Council had been “fantastic” with approving the development applications, Mr Warren said.
If the work is completed in time and the dawn service is held on the club grounds, it will cut out the 8.30am service the club has hosted in the past, allowing more time for veterans to get from the dawn service to the main march in Milton.