Riverlanders gathered across the Berri Barmera district to commemorate Anzac Day last [Friday].

Both Barmera and Berri paused to honour veterans, with large numbers of Riverlanders attending a dawn service held in each town.

Hosted by the Barmera and Berri RSL sub branches, along with support from the Berri Barmera Council, the Garden of Memory Anzac Day Dawn Service, at Barmera, is often one of the largest attended outside of metropolitan Adelaide.

Attending Barmera’s dawn service, Berri Barmera Mayor Ella Winnall said it was “great to see such big numbers coming out to pay their respects, with people of all ages keeping the tradition going”.

“It is always very moving having the Anzac Dawn Service at the Barmera Upper Murray Garden of Memory, which is the final resting place for over 600 servicemen and women,” she said.

“Thank you and well done to the Barmera RSL sub-branch for co-ordinating the dawn service, and the additional service to unveil a historic anchor at the Barmera RSL later in the morning.

“The anchor is a fitting tribute in honour of Australian RSL life member, and long-time Barmera RSL secretary Ron Hazel.”

Berri also held a dawn service this year, taking place at the community owned Berri Riverside Holiday Park.

“The service was well attended by many visitors as well as locals, and we’re pleased to see this service continuing to grow,” Mayor Winnall said.

“The park itself was established as a living, working war memorial, and owned by the Berri War Memorial Community Centre, so it’s fitting for the park to host a dawn service in Berri.

See all the coverage of Anzac Day in the Riverland in the issue.

This article appeared in Murray Pioneer, 30 April 2025.