Seventy-five years to the day since the official end of the Second World War was marked with a service in Mount Isa on Saturday.
The war ended when the Japanese surrendered on August 15, 1945 and the service at the cenotaph on Saturday morning also commemorated Vietnam Vets Day normally commemorated a few days later on August 18.
It was a welcome return for the local RSL sub-branch who missed out on Anzac Day commemorations at the height of the pandemic outbreak in April.
The covidsafe plan enforced 1.5m distance between seats and about 50 people came to the event, needing to register in advance.
Mayor Danielle Slade said the 75th anniversary commemorated the important role Australian played in ending the Second World War.
"Though the war ended in Europe on May 8, on the other side of the world the war was still to be fought," Cr Slade said.
Cr Slade said Australians were still involved in campaigns in New Guinea and Borneo right to the end of the war.
She also spoke of family members who took part in the war effort in the United Kingdom and her own mother Brenda Slade recalls their home in Birmingham being bombed and Winston Churchill making a speech outside the destroyed home.
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Cr Kim Coghlan spoke about the sacrifices made by the 50,000 Australians who served in the Vietnam War.
"On August 18 we commemorate Vietnam Veterans Day on the anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan in 1966," Cr Coghlan said.
"We pause and reflect on the bravery and endurance the Australians displayed throughout the war."
RSL sub-branch secretary Pauline Burgess was MC, prayers were recited by Father Mick Lowcock, bugle by Keith Cox and the ode was recited by sub-branch president Jonathan Visser.
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Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
