Adversity & Resilience: Commemoration

ANZAC Day 1920
In April 1920 planning for the local commemoration of ANZAC Day were well underway. Final details of the commemoration were decided on 14 April at a meeting of soldiers and citizens in the R.S.S.I.L.A. rooms. The Blackstone-Ipswich Cambrian Choir asked if they could assist and were asked to lead in the singing of hymns and to participate in the procession which consisted of the following in the order as listed:

• Ipswich City Vice-Regal Band
• Anzacs
• Other returned men
• St. David's Society
• St. George's Society
• Irish National Association
• Ipswich Caledonian Society and Burns Club
• H.A.C.B.S. (Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society)
• Rechabites
• A.N.A.
• M.U.I.O.O.F. (Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows)
• Druids
• Foresters
• G.U.O.O.F. (Grand United Order of Oddfellows)
• I.O.O.F. (Friendly Society)
• P.A.F.S.O.A. (Protestant Alliance Friendly Society)
• Salvation Army Band
• Model Band

The anniversary of the patron Saint, St George, known as England's Day, was commemorated on 23 April 1922, with members of the local branch of the Royal Society of St. George being asked to wear red and white roses or badges for two days. The Ipswich branch of the Women's Christian Temperance Union observed the 15 February 1929 as Frances Willard Day, this was to commemorate Miss Frances Willard who founded the movement. The 21st October 1936, marked 131 years since the Battle of Trafalgar. The occasion was commemorated by John Casey at the Rotary Club in Ipswich and by H. Heiner before members of the the Royal Society of St. George.

Coronation of the King and Queen, 1937
In Ipswich the Coronation of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth was commemorated with celebrations including the holding of an annual Show on the date of the Coronation. A city improvement scheme included beautification plans, one example being Limestone Hill.