A SLIGHTLY shortened version of Hamilton’s ANZAC Day march will step off this year from a new location, the pedestrian crossing on Gray Street, just near the NAB.

Marchers will be required to fall in at the new location at the traditional time of 9.45am preceding the 10am march to the Hamilton Memorial at Melville Oval (on the corner of Lonsdale and Glenelg Highway) for the commemorative service at 11am.

The parade will continue along the usual Gray Street route, turning left into Brown Street, before pausing on Lonsdale Street for wreath laying at the Vietnam, Light Horse and National Service memorials.

Marchers will then continue via the Hamilton Air Force Memorial gates located at Melville Oval on the corner of Brown and Lonsdale Street (opposite King’s Bakery) along the netball courts - as per last year’s route.

The uniformed guest speaker at the ANZAC Day service will be from the Royal Australian Navy, Chief Petty Officer from HMAS Cerberus, Jane Lapa.

Hamilton RSL president, Danny Bland, said there were several ex-Navy veterans in Hamilton, including World War II veteran George Habel OAM, and thus, it was deemed fitting to have a representative from the Navy.

“For a landlocked town like Hamilton, we thought it was appropriate to invite someone from the Navy,” he said.

Chief Petty Officer Lapa joined the Navy as a sailor over forty years ago and currently assists uniform manufacturers to create the Australian Defence Force’s most functional uniforms for military personnel.

Between 8.30-9.30am Southern Grampians Shire Council (SGSC) mayor, David Robertson, Hamilton RSL president, Danny Bland, and Hamilton Legacy president, Kelly McNaughton, will lay wreaths at several of the other memorial sites around Hamilton.

Hamilton RSL vice president and chairman of Hamilton ANZAC Day committee, Graeme Mustow (ex-Navy), said the wreath laying at these memorials was an important part of commemorations.

They include the honour roll boards at the Hamilton Performing Arts Centre, SGSC Market Place Council Chambers, the Hamilton Boer War Memorial on the corner of Milton and Chaucer Streets, and the Hamilton General Cemetery on Coleraine Road.

Wreaths will also be laid at the site of the Aboriginal Sundial at Lake Hamilton to commemorate Indigenous service personnel, with Indigenous representatives in attendance.

Mr Mustow said overall, there were only small changes to the ANZAC Day commemorations.

“There are small changes to the wreath laying part of the service as well as the shortened march,” Mr Mustow said.

“Instead of laying wreaths one at a time - wreaths will be laid in groups of three.

“There will be people to show them what to do - they are the only changes to the service.”

The Dawn Service will take place at 6.30am at the Hamilton Memorial at Melville Oval.

Following the Dawn Service, breakfast will be available at Legacy House at Hamilton and District Legacy, 69 Kennedy Street, and following the 11am service, refreshments will be available with a gold coin donation at the Hamilton RSL at 81 Kennedy Street.

Hamilton RSL secretary, Belinda Lane, said the march was shortened to cater for some of our more senior veterans.

“We’re looking after our veterans,” she said.

“We want to continue to include everyone - we don’t anyone to not participate because they feel they can’t do it.”