Remembrance Day service cancelled without notice

Disappointment has been expressed at the cancellation without notice of the Remembrance Day service to be held at the Woy Woy Memorial Park.

The service was to be conducted by the Ettalong RSL at 11am and approximately 40 people, including Member for Gosford Mr Chris Holstein, gathered at the park for the ceremony.

Among those in attendance were members of the Malaya and Borneo Veterans Association and returned World War II servicemen.

Mr Geoff Turner, a 91-year-old World War II veteran from Umina, said he was, and still is, very upset at what had occurred.

"My wife and I picked up two friends who are widows of veterans of World War II to go to the service at Woy Woy Memorial park," Mr Turner said.

"We arrived at 10:30am and there was no one around; no set up at all.

"Ready for the service, people started to gather, veterans and relatives of veterans wearing their medals, at about 10:45am.

"Someone rang the RSL, only to be told it had been cancelled at 9am and put on Radio 2GO that to say it had been cancelled.

"There was no rain during this time and there was no one from the RSL at the park to let people know about it."

Mr Turner said that the vice president of the Malaya and Borneo Veterans Association Brisbane Water branch instead decided to conduct a service.

"I decided to help out," Mr Turner said.

About 40 or 50 people remained in attendance and three wreathes were laid.

"I thank the people for staying for a brief ceremony," Mr Turner said.

Mr Turner said he spoke to the president of the Woy Woy Ettalong Hardy's Bay RSL sub-branch, who was responsible for cancelling the ceremony, the following day.

"He said there was no way he was going to have electric cables laid out in the rain," Mr Turner said.

"Okay, but why not use a loud megaphone?

"He said they didn't have one and that there was no way he was going to stand out in the rain and conduct a service.

"I said it was just as well he wasn't in charge of the services at Martin Place and Canberra as it was pouring down in Canberra.

"I mentioned that no one was at Woy Woy to say the service was cancelled.

"He said people were there until 10am.

"Not good enough.

"By that time, I was very upset."

Ms Marie Lade was also part of the crowd gathered at Woy Woy Memorial Park and said she was disappointed with what had happened.

"I would like to point out there was not one drop of rain from when I got there at 10:30am and left at 11:15am," Ms Lade said.

"I'm sure the thanks of all that were there, go to those two gentlemen that filled in for all service people."

Letter, 14 Nov 2013

Geoff Turner, Umina

Email, 13 Nov 2013

Marie Lade, Umina