BRILLIANT weather greeted the large crowd at this year’s Reserve Force Day celebration and Manning Muster veterans’ reunion.
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A highlight was the presentation of 22 Boer War descendant medals to families of veterans who served in the conflict 110 years ago.
The families travelled from Port Macquarie, Lake Cathie, Forster, Mitchells Island, Old Bar, Wingham and Harrington, to attend the presentation at Taree’s Macquarie Barracks.
One recipient, Mrs June Hoysted of Forster, is the daughter of a Boer War veteran; the remainder comprised grandchildren and great-grandchildren of former veterans.
It was the fourth consecutive year a Reserve Forces Day has been conducted at Macquarie Barracks, with Taree one of only 19 towns and cities across Australia to conduct a Reserve Forces Day this year.
Bugler Warwick Murray played ‘Fall In’ to mark the start of the ceremony, heralded also by the flypass of a vintage Tiger Moth piloted by Brian Bignell at 1000 feet.
The program included the popular Australian Lighthorse parade, Australian Armed Forces Re-Enactment Heritage Unit, Club Taree Band Drum Corps, TS Manoora and 28th Regional cadet units, reflections on the Boer War, and the reading of messages from Governor-General Quentin Bryce AC and prime minister Julia Gillard.