Navy veteran Donnelly to speak at Anzac Day service in Sydney

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Royal New Zealand Navy veteran Gisborne’s Jack Donnelly will give an Anzac Day address in Australia.

The former Chief Petty Officer will speak at Woronora, a small suburb in Sutherland near Cronulla in Sydney.

Mr Donnelly told the Herald he had been a member of the Woronora RSL for 12 years.

“I changed the way they did their Anzac Day services, was the MC, Parade Commander and at times the guest speaker.

“I was also their vice president before I came back home after my wife died.”

He will speak about the role of women in war - in particular, the womenfolk who were left at home and kept the home fires burning.

“I just wanted something that was different and feel this kaupapa would be appreciated by the public of today,” he said.