General News
24 April, 2026
Gallipoli honour for sailor
HMAS CAIRNS will back a range of ANZAC Day services and events across Far North Queensland, with local personnel also set to feature in national and international commemorations.
HMAS Cairns commanding officer Commander Andrew Thorpe will lead the Cairns Anzac Day parade, while Major Kathryn McDermid, 51st Far North Qld Regiment, will deliver the dawn service address at the Cairns Cenotaph.
Across the region, HMAS Cairns personnel will attend school and aged care services on 24-25 April, including St Andrew’s Catholic College, Peace Lutheran College, Freshwater Christian College, Redlynch State College, Gordonvale State High School, Mother of Good Counsel, Woree State High School, White Rock State School, Newman Catholic College, Kuranda District State College, Trinity Beach State School, Yorkey’s Knob State School, Innisfail State College and Cairns Special State School.
Aged care visits will include Kewarra Aged Care on 24 April, and Infinite Care Edge Hill, Infinite Care Edmonton and Farnorha Aged Care Facility on 25 April.
On 25 April, services will be held across the Cairns area, including Cairns City and Trinity Beach at 5.30am, Gordonvale at 8am and Yorkey’s Knob at 8.30am. Regional services will also take place in Millaa Millaa, Cooktown, Mossman, Port Douglas and Tully.
Cairns-born Able Seaman maritime personnel operator Kieryn Nieves will feature at the Gallipoli dawn service in Turkiye, where he will play the didgeridoo.
AB Nieves, originally from Cairns in Far North Queensland, is an Australian Navy regional Indigenous development coordinator based at HMAS Albatross in Nowra, NSW.
He has performed at several Navy Indigenous development program events in Cairns, including graduation ceremonies at HMAS Cairns.
The Gallipoli appearance will see AB Nieves represent both the Royal Australian Navy and Far North Queensland during commemorations.
In a related ANZAC Day activity, a new partnership between the Cairns RSL sub branch and local florist Roses Only will give families of returned service personnel the opportunity to create personalised floral wreaths ahead of the day.
Lead florist and local artist Tijn Meulendijks from Roses Only will guide people through the process, demonstrating how to prepare and present each wreath.
