Grazier and RSL call for ANZAC volunteers

The Riverine Grazier has partnered with Hay RSL Sub Branch to bring the community together in an ANZAC project.

The Grazier is calling for community members to carry the names of the 632 World War I service men and women in the ANZAC Day march in April 2023. The long list of names are immortalised on the honor roll in the Hay War Memorial High School museum.

In total 641 men and women enlisted, 103 of which died during the war.

“Next year the high school will celebrate it’s 100th year, and it is also the 150th year of The Grazier, so we wanted to mark both occasions in a special way,” manager of The Riverine Grazier Krista Schade said.

“We would love to have 624 people volunteer – imagine the visual impact of that many people taking part in the ANZAC Day march. It will remind us just how many people scarified so much for our town, and the country.”

“But no matter how many volunteers we have, it is something we are proud to co-ordinate.”

RSL Hay president Paul Edwards said he is looking forward to welcoming new people into the march.

“This will be a great thing,” he said. “It’ll be good to see new faces and young people join us on ANZAC Day.”

Anyone interested in taking part in the project can sign up at the Grazier office at 95 Lachlan Street, Hay or email krista@thegrazier.com.au.

The Riverine Grazier will prepare A4 sized names for volunteers to carry, so any age is able to be involved.

A ceremony to farewell troops and recruit new ones at Hay during World War I. The banner reads: "We're off; Join us; It's up to you." [Fred Harrison photograph collection (from the Hay Historical Society’s CD-ROM, ‘Portrait of Hay’)]