George Rossington, who was born in Scone and grew up at Belltrees, served with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) for more than two decades.

And, he said it was a “great honour” to speak at the 2018 ceremony on Wednesday, April 25.

“I always remember the Anzac Day service at Gundy, which I attended as a child,” Mr Rossington said.

“Even after many years away, I returned to find a lot of people – who I knew at a young age – still gracing the ceremony with their presence.

“I feel Gundy is the focal point for my family on Anzac Day, considering our close association with the town.

“Both my parents and grandparents were from Gundy, with my grandfather Ike being the local blacksmith.

“Ike and Emily Rossington had 16 children and five of the sons, Aubrey, Lance, Keith, Cecil and Clifton (Tippo), served in the military during World War II both in Australia and overseas.

“Fortunately, all returned home.

“Douglas, the eldest son of my grandmother, Maude Golledge, also served during the second World War with Rex Greer, a cousin, serving during World War I.

“A tree has been planted to remember the Rossington family, with my father and uncles also remembered on the Roll of Honour within the hall.”

Mr Rossington was the second eldest of seven children to Tippo and Betty Rossington, well-known residents of the Upper Hunter, with Tippo being a stockman at Belltrees for more than 20 years.

After completing the Leaving Certificate at Scone High School in 1965, he found employment in Sydney and joined the RAAF in 1968. 

In 1970, he was posted to No. 2 Squadron at Phan Rang in South Vietnam where he served for 12 months with the bomber squadron.

Mr Rossington served at a number of bases within Australia and overseas, including BSESL, 1SD, 2SD, 1CAMD, BSWLM and BSBUT in Malaysia. 

He progressed through the ranks and attained the position of Warrant Officer prior to retirement.

The 69-year-old met his wife Jutta, who was also in the RAAF, at East Sale in Victoria prior to going to Vietnam and they married at Belltrees while he was on “R&R” in October 1970.

They have two children.

Mr Rossington retired from the RAAF in 1988 after 20 years’ service and moved to Brisbane where he then served as a civilian with the Queensland Police Service for 18 years in administration, training and finance. 

Following brief retirements, he worked as an accountant with the CSIRO and then started a catering business, which he continued for three years until finally retiring to Caloundra on the Queensland Sunshine Coast.

A free bus will leave the Scone RSL Club, hotels and Scone Bowling Club from 8am.

The March from the Linga Longa Hotel to the service at the Gundy RSL Club hall departs at 9am.

Aberdeen

6am: Dawn Service – Memorial, Moray Street, followed by breakfast

8.30am: Assemble for March in Bedford Street near pre-school

9.10am: March and Remembrance Service

10am: Official proceedings followed by brunch – Aberdeen RSL Club auditorium

Denman

6am: Dawn Service at Denman’s Memorial Park

11am: Anzac Day church service at St Bernard’s Catholic Church, to be followed by a March from the church to Memorial Park

Noon: Commemorative service at Memorial Park 

Cassilis

10.45am: Assemble at the corner of Branksome and Ancrum streets to march across the bridge, or if not marching, assemble at the War Memorial Park Gates

There will be a wreath laying ceremony followed by refreshments at the Cassilis Bowling Club

Gundy

8am: Free bus from Scone RSL Club, hotels, and Scone Bowling Club to Gundy, returning after the service

9am: March from Linga Longa Hotel to service at Gundy RSL Hall

Merriwa

5.40am: Dawn Service at Cenotaph

7am: Breakfast at Merriwa RSL Club

10.30am: March from front of RSL Club to Cenotaph

10.45am: Remembrance Service at Cenotaph

Murrurundi

6am: Dawn Service at Memorial Gate (Murrurundi Bowling Club)

10.45am: Assemble at Adelaide Street

11am: March to Murrurundi Memorial Gates

11.30am: Remembrance Service at Memorial Gates

Muswellbrook

6am: Dawn Service at Muswellbrook Cenotaph

10am: Anzac Day March along Bridge Street, followed by a commemorative service at the Cenotaph

Scone

6am: Dawn Service at War Memorial Swimming Pool

10.30am: Assemble at Kelly Street

10.45am: March

11am: Fly past of former military aircraft and Remembrance Service – War Memorial at Barwick House, Kelly Street