Dawn breaks on war veterans

BIG crowds are expected at local services to commemorate Anzac Day.
Services will be held around the district as communities honour their war veterans next Tuesday, 25 April.
Pakenham’s dawn service has experienced steadily increasing crowds over recent years.
The service will be held at the war memorial on the corner of John and Henry Streets.
Cockatoo residents will gather at 6am at the town’s RSL monument for the dawn service.
At 10.45am, marchers will leave Cockatoo Primary School and make their way to the RSL hall.
At Berwick, residents will gather for a service at 11am at the city’s cenotaph.
Marchers will assemble at 10.50am at the RSL clubrooms in Langmore Lane for the traditional march down High Street.
These are just some of the services planned for the CaseyCardinia area on Anzac Day.
Pakenham RSL president Norm Joseph said residents around Cardinia Shire were again invited to join returned servicemen and women in marking the important occasion.
“We will honour those who laid down their lives so we can enjoy the freedom we have today,” Mr Joseph said.
The 5.30am service at Pakenham will be followed by the traditional gunfire breakfast prepared and served by the Pakenham Rotary Club with the help of the RSL ladies auxiliary.
Mr Joseph said an Anzac Day memorial church service would also be held on Sunday, 23 April at the Salvation Army centre in Bald Hill Road.
“The service starts at 10am and is a nondenominational service so all will be made very welcome,” he said.