Veterans living on Tasmania’s East Coast believe the key to ensuring that Anzac Day traditions continue is to teach the youth in their community.
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St Helens RSL sub-branch President Wayne Cubitt said the region was more attractive to veterans of a retirement age than younger veterans.
“We don’t get many modern day veterans, when they finish they are still young and need to work and because of a lack of opportunity in Tasmania and especially the East Coast they don’t come back here,” he said.
“Hopefully there is no more wars, so if that comes to pass we need someone to carry on the tradition of conducting these services to remember where we come from and I think you’d find that throughout Australia that will be the case in years to come when we Vietnam veterans pass on.”
Part of the Anzac Day commemorations on the East Coast included an all-night vigil by the local sea scouts, who keep watch over the cenotaph in the lead up to the dawn service.
“The TS Argonaut naval cadets, which is a pretty good unit down here, they do most of our parades on the cenotaph and lead our marching, they were named the best unit in 2015,” Mr Cubitt said.
“They support our ceremonial services each year but we think on the East Coast in years to come hopefully the school will run these events.”
RSL club secretary and treasurer Harry Jager said there were only about 60 members of the RSL.
“All the World War II vets have nearly died, and the Vietnam veterans and national servicemen are getting old too - I was a national servicemen and I turn 80 next year,” he said.
The pair also help to run the local veterans centre which was created in 2001.
“At the moment we are pretty well off with Vietnam veterans running things and we will keep our doors open as long as we can, we are here for everybody, even civilians,” Mr Jager said.
Mr Cubitt said if they ever hear of a veteran in the region who is in need they will make sure to touch base.
“A lot of them don’t want to be any part of the system … we still support them but we don’t see many of them unless they want to come and have a coffee and a chat or they need something done, they seem pretty happy with their welfare,” he said.
This year’s special guest speaker at Anzac Day events is Warrant Officer Alan Ward.