Karen Andrews (McPherson, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the residents and visitors to the Gold Coast who attended the many Anzac Day services that were held across the Gold Coast this year. In my electorate I am fortunate enough to have four RSLs: Burleigh Heads, Currumbin-Palm Beach, Mudgeeraba and Tweed Heads & Coolangatta. Each year, each of those RSLs conducts Anzac Day services to commemorate those who have served our country in the many conflicts we have participated in and to pass down the Anzac message to younger generations.

There certainly has been a surge of people in recent years coming out to pay their respects on Anzac Day, with crowds this year much larger than the year before. In particular, many thousands of people attended the service at the Currumbin RSL's dawn service, at Elephant Rock in Currumbin. It was also excellent to see so many young people and young families attending those services and commemorating the sacrifices of our Anzacs and celebrating the freedoms we enjoy.

I especially thank Ron Workman, OAM, the President of Currumbin RSL; Bruce Weir, the newly-elected President of Burleigh Heads RSL; Peter Franklin, OAM, President of Mudgeeraba RSL; Joe Russell, President of Tweed Heads & Coolangatta RSL; and their respective committees, for their hard work and commitment in organising this year's commemorations.