Justin Maher will return home next week as guest speaker at Deniliquin’s Anzac Day service.
Warrant Officer First Class Maher joined the Australian Army after starting his career with the Central Murray County Council in Deniliquin, and has served in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
He will give the address at the commemorative service, which is held at the Deniliquin cenotaph from 11am.
It will be preceded by the traditional march, which steps off from the Deniliquin Town Hall at 10.45am. Those taking part are asked to assemble by 10.30am.
WO1 Maher said when he was looking for a career change, he was considering both the NSW Police Force and the Australian Army.
It was the added advantage of learning a new trade that saw him pursue the latter.
He trained as a fitter armourer with the army, or a gunsmith in layman terms, and later was employed to teach the course.
In the years between training and teaching, WO1 was deployed to active service overseas three times.
He did one stint in Iraq from November 2005 to June 2006, and two in Afghanistan — October 2010 to July 2011 and November 2012 to July 2013.
‘‘Going to Iraq I was a Craftsman, which is a Private in my unit, and serviced the armoured vehicles and weapons, and would participate in weekly range shoots,’’ Sgt Maher said.
‘‘My first stint in Afghanistan I was in the remote control centre, and I was the fitter, the mechanic, the electrician and basically did any general repairs for the base — which was a small base.
‘‘The second time there I was at Tarinkot and I was Acting General Engagement Sergeant. It was more of an administrative role, but I was still a little hands-on in the workshop.’’
The timetable for other Anzac Day services and events are as follows:
5.45am - Participants in the Deniliquin dawn service march are asked to assemble outside Deniliquin Newsagency to march to the cenotaph, for the 6am service.
6.30am - Gunfire Breakfast at the Deniliquin RSL Club. $5 per person.
8am - Service at the Deniliquin War Cemetery. A bus will depart the RSL at 7.45am.
9am - Wanganella Anzac Day service at the Wanganella Hall.
10.30am - Participants in the Deniliquin mid-morning service are asked to assemble at Deniliquin Town Hall for a 10.45am march off to the Deniliquin cenotaph.
11am - Deniliquin Anzac Day service. Followed by a luncheon in the Deniliquin RSL Club’s Dunlop Room (upstairs). The cost for the buffet lunch is $10. Following the lunch, veterans are encouraged to attend the Deniliquin Anzac Day Races. Those wearing their medals will receive free entry and entry to the hospitality tent.
Commemorations will begin this weekend, with the now annual Diggers Day golf challenge.
Presented by the Deniliquin Golf Club and Deniliquin RSL Sub-branch, the ANZAC Challenge is a four person ambrose with a noon shotgun start.
Teams can register on the morning, and are asked to nominate whether they will be competing as Australians, New Zealanders or another country of choice.
The winning team members will receive Blackhawk Italian decanters, while the runners-up will be presented with Army bottle coolers.
There will also be a raffle, with tickets sold on the day.
Entry is $30 per player, and a barbecue and drinks cart will be available.
To complement the day, the Deniliquin Golf Club will host a military memorabilia display, and ANZAC Appeal items will be on sale.
Online registrations can be made at denigolf.com.au, or before 11.30am on the day of the challenge.