HAYLETT (Ripon) (15:41):

Last week thousands gathered at the many Anzac Day services across the Ripon electorate. We honoured our service men and women and those that made the ultimate sacrifice in defence of our nation, our values and our way of life. I had the privilege of joining locals from Landsborough, Navarre, Paradise and surrounds at the dawn service and gunfire breakfast in Landsborough. Local legends Gary and Janeane Edwards held the moving service in the memorial garden and commemorated local veterans who gave so much to our nation.

I then laid a wreath in Elmhurst and attended morning services in Streatham and Skipton. A big thankyou to Bruce Dunn, Jan Eastick and Lorraine Cooper from the Streatham hall committee for a moving march and service followed by tea, biscuits and great yarns in the main hall. Another big thankyou to Gail Ward, Graham Layley and the Friends of the RSL, Skipton branch, who held a service attended by almost every local in town. Skipton Primary School students recited poems. The Skipton and District Historical Society put together a beautiful photographic display of local service men and women in the mechanics hall, and Amr and Heather kept us all fed with delicious sandwiches and cake.

I finished off the day in Stockyard Hill, where the local social club held a two-up and Anzac biscuit competition. Western Ag and the Hawker family supported the event along with Deb Bain and the Kirkpatrick family.

It is individuals and community groups like those I met on Anzac Day that make me so proud to be Australian. They embody the qualities of the Anzacs with selflessness and mateship, and they keep the Anzac spirit alive for current and future generations.