VP Day And A 98th Birthday To Remember Mackay Honours 81 Years Of Peace

Mackay RSL Sub-Branch Inc President Ken Higgins OAM, Mr Burley’s daughter Mary-Anne, Mayor Greg Williamson, Lewis Burley and his son Steve. Photo source: Mackay RSL Sub-Branch Inc

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Locals gathered at Jubilee Park on Saturday, August 15, to commemorate Victory in the Pacific (VP) Day and mark the 81st anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

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The annual ceremony provided an opportunity for the community to remember the Australians and Allied forces who served and sacrificed during the war, while reflecting on the peace and freedom secured through their service.

Mackay’s last surviving WWII veteran, Lewis Burley, also marked his 98th birthday on VP Day, with his children, Mary-Anne and Steve, travelling from Sydney to celebrate the special milestone with him.

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The occasion was also marked from above, with a lone Tiger Moth flying over Jubilee Park at 11am. Volunteers Michael and George represented the Tiger Moth Museum, carrying the respect of the Museum’s volunteers for those who served and gave their lives.

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While Anzac Day remains Australia’s principal day of military remembrance, VP Day continues to hold an important place in the nation’s history, marking the Japanese surrender on August 15, 1945, which brought the Second World War to an end.

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The ceremony served as a solemn reminder of the cost of war and the importance of continuing to remember those who served.

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Lest we forget.

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