A serviceman with 50 years of experience will share his reflections of his time in the military as part of a public Anzac Day service at Willaura later this month.

A Stand to the Cenotaph and Memorial Hall Service will be among Anzac Day proceedings starting from 9am on April 25.

Organisers cancelled the dawn service, which normally runs as part of the day.

Following the cenotaph service there will be a march to the town’s memorial hall for a commemorative service. Hamilton Pipe Band will lead the march.

Commander Mick Brice, who has a strong connection to Willaura, will be guest speaker at the hall service.

Commander Brice first joined the Royal Australian Navy as an apprentice in 1964, and his career extended over 50 years of military service.

He was commissioned as Sub Lieutenant in 1977 and served ashore at HMAS Cerberus and in the UK, and then at sea in aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne.

He was the arrester officer responsible for the safe landing of aircraft on their return to the ship.

From 1982 to 1985 he was involved in shore base development tasks in Canberra. He was promoted to Lieutenant Commander and then served as the Engineer Officer of the frigate HMAS Parramatta, base ported in Sydney.

He worked at the staff college in 1988 and then returned to Canberra before he was promoted to Commander.

He has been employed in various other roles, including helping write a handbook on improvised explosive devices for United Nations, UN, peacekeepers.

Following the service in the hall, a short ceremony will run at the Plantation Memorial.

Willaura Primary School parents will run a morning tea and are asking community members to contribute a plate.

Students from the school will also participate in both commemorations, and members of the public will be invited to lay wreaths.

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