Two suburban RLS branches are thrilled that Anzac Day services cancelled last year due to COVID restrictions were able to go ahead this year.

The RSL Rockingham branch’s event at The Village Green attracted about 13,000 people, president Ian Brooke said.

Belmont RSL president Alan Richardson told Gareth Parker on 6PR Breakfast his club was delighted to commemorate the day again.

He said Anzac Day signified the importance of mateship and the telling of stories to help foster better mental health, paricularly with many young men and women returning home now with PTSD.

“The first World War I diggers, when they got together and used to sit back home at their little RSLs all over Australia in every country town, they’d wander home, and you saw them staggering home after a good session with their mates,” he told Parker.

“But their mates would find out which one was faring well and which one wasn’t, and accordingly would look after them and take care of them.”

Press PLAY below to hear more from them on 6PR Breakfast