National honour for Geraldton RSL president

Geraldton RSL Club president Ross Davies next to the city’s World War One Memorial

Geraldton Returned Services League (RSL) President Ross Davies will represent the State for the handover of the Gallipoli Flame in Canberra on Saturday.

The RSL Gallipoli Flame is part of the 100th anniversary of ANZAC, being conducted by Camp Gallipoli, a Not-For-Profit organisation which raises awareness of our ANZAC heritage and raises money for the RSL and Legacy.

Mr Davies, a Vietnam Veteran, will represent the WA President of the RSL Graham Edwards at the Australian War Memorial. Mr Davies will bring back two torches – one for Perth and one for Geraldton.

The torches, which were originally lit in Albany on 28 September 2014, are  specially-designed for air travel and similar to that used by the Olympic movement.

“This is certainly a great honour and privilege,” said Mr Davies. “It may be that Geraldton is the only regional centre in WA that receives the flame, as I’m not sure if any other RSL club presidents are travelling east.

The Perth torch will tour the State and return to Albany for the inaugural Camp Gallipoli, which will bring together West Australians for an authentic ANZAC experience, camping outdoors under the stars from 24-25 April.

Mr Davies said the Geraldton torch would appear at various locations in the leadup to Camp Gallipoli at Bundiyarra on 24 April and on Anzac Day (25 April).

The 25 camps around Australia are for people unable to go to Gallipoli for the 100-year anniversary and will take place simultaneously on April 24 and 25 in six capital cities around Australia and several regional sites next year.