Tamworth RSL sub-branch president Jayne McCarthy excited to lead first Anzac Day march

Jayne McCarthy was voted in as the first female leader in the 101 year of the sub-branch in February, replacing long-time servant Bob Chapman, who stepped down to senior vice-president.

"Being a part of the march every year is very special to me anyway," Ms McCarthy said.

"But leading the march as the RSL sub-branch president is a very surreal idea to me at the moment.

"I have marched in Melbourne and Sydney, but to lead the march here in little old Tamworth - wow, I am very pumped for that."

This year Anzac Day will have a special focus on WWII, as this year marks the 80^th anniversary of the start of the war.

"The Tamworth community still has half a dozen WWII veterans, and we thought it would be fitting to have them up the front of the march," she said.

"There are jeeps available if they need them." 

Over the past decade the sub-branch has worked extremely hard to build the local Anzac Day services back up to what they are today, with over 5000 attending last year's Dawn Service at Anzac Park, and at least the same number expected this year.

While this year's services will have a special focus on WWII

For the new president, who was formerly the secretary, the mission is simple - carry on the good work.

"If it ain't broke don't fix it," she said.

"Anzac Day is always a very special and very well attended day in Tamworth that a lot of work goes into every year.

"We will be sticking to the usual routine of the Dawn Service, the breakfast, the march and the main service at the Town Hall." 

Over the Easter long weekend members of the sub-branch will be selling Anzac pins and badges in central locations around Tamworth including the CBD, Bunnings and Shoppingworld.

"That money goes straight back into the RSL to help us run events like Anzac Day and others throughout the year," Mrs McCarthy said.