ANZAC Day represents the 95th Anniversary of those fateful landings on the shores of Gallipoli.

The Burleigh Heads RSL Sub Branch will be out in force this ANZAC Day to commemorate this very special day in Australian's history. On ANZAC Day, they will also mark the 94th anniversary year of the formation of the Returned & Services League of Australia (RSL). Burleigh Heads RSL Sub Branch President, Mr Chris Keating, said that this ANZAC Day would be a very special day for veterans of all ages.

"This ANZAC Day will be a wonderful opportunity for current and ex-serving members of the Australian Defence Force and Allied Forces to come together and to march in support of the memory of those who have fallen in service to this great country."

The Burleigh Heads RSL Sub Branch is expecting the recent trend of big ANZAC Day crowds to continue this year, as public support for the ANZAC Day marches and current-serving personnel remains very strong.

"It is especially significant to bring service generations together on ANZAC Day so as to pay tribute to the diggers from WWII through to modern day conflicts such as Iraq, Timor, Afghanistan and those involved in peacekeeping operations. It is unfortunate that some people would try to denigrate such an important commemoration by granting a substitute holiday and by endeavouring to turn it into just another chance for shopping and commercial greed. I can only hope that the public will respond appropriately."

The Burleigh Heads RSL Sub-Branch, Women's Auxiliary under the leadership of Auxiliary Secretary/ Welfare Fundraiser, Mrs. Jean McKenzie will be fundraising the week prior to ANZAC Day selling ANZAC badges in James Street Burleigh Heads in the front of Suncorp Office. The Ladies of the Auxiliary will continue fundraising on ANZAC Day prior to the main Service commencing in the Burleigh Memorial Park. The funds raised are used for Welfare of Veterans and War Widows. As the Veteran community continues to age, they have a greater need for services for which the funds raised assist in that continued work.

The RSL was formed in 1916 at a conference of Returned Soldiers' Associations, and began as the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia (RSSILA) to address the growing welfare needs of diggers returning from WWI. Burleigh Heads RSL sub-branch was formed on the 3rd January 1939 some 23 years after the body of RSL organization was formed and celebrated its 70th anniversary last year. The formation almost 25 years after the original landings at Gallipoli was a courageous one considering the dark war clouds forming over Europe at that time. The Sub-Branch has remained a strong voice for the Burleigh Heads ex-service community for those 70 years and continues strongly today with a membership of 220 members.

Mr. Keating stated "Today, the RSL remains a strong voice for the ADF community and provides vital welfare and advocacy services for returned and current serving members of the Australian Defence Force."