General News
22 April, 2024
Guardians set to march
First involved in Maryborough’s Anzac Day service in 2022, Guardians of the Spirit is building its momentum and will once again march locally this Thursday. An organisation founded by former infantryman and local Phil Daniel, Guardians of the...
First involved in Maryborough’s Anzac Day service in 2022, Guardians of the Spirit is building its momentum and will once again march locally this Thursday.
An organisation founded by former infantryman and local Phil Daniel, Guardians of the Spirit is a symbolic banner of commonality for servicemen and women to march under, regardless of their deployment or service history.
“The whole idea of Guardians of the Spirit is to give former servicemen and women a banner to march under,” Mr Daniel said.
“The sad reality is that the number of people who are marching are dwindling as the years go on and the last thing I want to see is for us to lose Anzac Day services anywhere because of that.”
A former infantryman, Mr Daniel felt the need to found Guardians of the Spirit as he, along with other former service people, felt they couldn’t necessarily march on Anzac Day.
“I made the decision a few years back to march in Bendigo, but I didn’t know who was who or where I belonged,” he said.
“Guardians of the Spirit is about bringing people together and giving everyone a place, it’s something that I think is important to the community.”
This Thursday, the Guardians of the Spirit will march along High Street as part of the annual Anzac Day parade in Maryborough.
One local taking part in the march is Central Goldfields Shire councillor and former army reservist Wayne Sproull, who said the importance of Anzac Day can’t be understated.
“Anzac Day for me is important, it’s more of a national day than Australia Day is in my view,” he said.
“It’s been really good to support Phil in getting this off the ground because it is important that we all commemorate, celebrate and remember what Anzac Day is all about.
“The number of survivors of major conflicts are unfortunately dwindling and we need to make sure we keep that memory alive.”
Following the march through High Street and the mid-morning service, Guardians of the Spirit will host a free barbecue at Phillips Gardens, sponsored by IGA, with everyone in the community welcome to attend.