In recognition of the Centenary of ANZAC 2014-2018, we also undertook the task of identifying and recording the histories of all those who went to WWI from Braidwood.  465 men and women from the district volunteered and went to WWI.   88 did not return.   We have published individual booklets on the 88 who did not return and are continuing the task for the 377 who did come home.

The town was also encouraged to dress shop windows with appropriate commemorative displays. 

The RSL committee is very pleased with ANZAC Day 2015.  Any day like this takes a lot of planning and preparation.  Braidwood showed its marvellous community spirit in many different ways. The way people and groups came together to help and assisted and participated showed the great spirit of this town at its best.

The RSL committee would like to thank all those who assisted and helped. 

The ANZAC Commemoration Contingent was a moving and wonderful part of the day.  88 local school students from St Bede’s and Braidwood Central School marched as the Braidwood ANZACs Commemoration Contingent, representing these soldiers. They each carried the book with the story of their soldier. The children honoured the memory of their soldier by placing a flag in the garden at the side of Ryrie Park.  The children did a marvellous job. Their drill was sharp and they did very well by their soldiers.

I would also like to acknowledge those who helped to make this moving part of the ceremony possible, Chris Nelson and Jeff Wolford for organising the contingent and teaching the children to march; the staff of St Bede’s and Braidwood Central Schools for coming together and making this a town event; Jenny Wallace and her awesome Us on Mondays quilting group for producing the satchels.  A large number of the flags were donated by Len Muttons.

The books were launched by our local member, Dr Peter Hendy in the Services club.   The books were produced with the work and dedication of a number of people over the last three years.  Karen Nelson, a passionate genealogist has been key to this project.  She has had a passion for tracking her soldiers and tracing their histories.   Her daughter-in- law Renee and Karen's husband Chris, have also been essential parts of the team, helping with AWM on-line tracing and setting up the data base.  

The books are a magnificent, if sobering record of the service of each of the 88 soldiers.  Karen Shea has devoted enormous effort, passion and time to design and build the individual books. With her extensive local knowledge, she has been able to add a large amount of local colour to the documents. Karen has done a wonderful job bringing the display to life.  She has also designed and put together the on-line presentation which supports the book display.

And many people here have helped with proof reading and editing.  

The cost of producing these books and the ones later in the year is not insignificant.  The sub branch has raised a good portion of the money and we thank the guys, particularly Pring Raynolds who loves collecting money from our passing traffic.  Donations have been made by the federal government from the 100 Years of ANZAC 2014-1018 fund and from our Community Bank.  For these we are most grateful.

For those who participated and those who assisted, the police, SES, our sub branch members and the schools, thank you.

Thank you to the Services Club and the golf club for the gunfire breakfast and the excellent lunch we enjoyed.  In today’s environment the golf club is struggling, but is fighting back in tremendous spirit, raising money through such efforts. Good luck to them.

The talent in this town continues to amaze me.  The Pied Piper has published many poems from Vietnam and the years after.  100 Years of ANZAC is a very moving addition to his collection. 

The Memorial Garden looks very nice thanks to the rain but more so from the efforts of Irene and Jeff Wolford.

The military again gave the day an extra polish.  Thank you to Kapyong Company RMC. The drums and piper from ADFA made marching much easier and the bugler was excellent. 

This year we managed to find some appropriate new hymns and songs for the ceremonies.   Thank you Jeff Wolford for finding these and our local choral group the Cantors for leading us so well in singing them.

The RSL sub branch committee sincerely thanks all these people for their tremendous efforts in making the day a success.  With such a large event, it is probable we have overlooked someone.  Thank you to anyone else who helped.

Hard copies are available to family members on request.  Call Karen Nelson on 02 48421106 or send an email to our website at www.braidwoodrsl.com.au. Or you can view all books and other information, or download a copy of the books from that website. You can also see or contribute to the information on the day on that website.

Ted Younger 

Braidwood Sub Branch

Returned and Services League of Australia