Part 4/8:
A local organizer emphasized the importance of the event, calling the Prime Minister’s absence “a kick in the guts” for veterans and the broader defense community across Australia. On Friday, approximately 3,000 people are expected to gather for a service, with streets closed in Townsville’s Strand for the occasion. The event on Saturday is expected to draw between 50,000 to 60,000 visitors, including seven WWII veterans aged between 99 and 104, alongside Queensland’s Premier and the French ambassador.