Anzac Day sparks a variety of emotions in the everyday Australian and the importance of the occasion is marked as strongly in regional areas as in Brisbane city.
The Taroom community and RSL branch received a special influx of attendees at their Anzac Day commemorations and celebrations this year.
The Rumblers Anzac Ride consists of 20 kind hearted motorcyclists with a desire to contribute to small towns on Anzac Day.
Pete Campbell, Esk, is the face of the Rumblers and said a number of those who volunteered for the ride where ex-servicemen and women themselves.
“A few years ago someone suggested we attend an Anzac Day service in a small town, so we decided to make it a ride,” Mr Campbell said.
“We pick a small town with an RSL or a sub branch and organise a five day ride looping back to the start point.
“We like the little one pub towns. The smaller the better as it gives us the opportunity to make a real difference.”
Mr Campbell said the positive atmosphere in regional areas drew the team back year after year.
“When we ride into town and meet such friendly, appreciative people it makes our trip so much more rewarding,” he said.
“It gives us a sense of achieving something for someone else and that’s an exceptional feeling.”
Mr Campbell spent 22 years as a signals corps officer in communications with the Australian Army and travelled extensively throughout Asia and Antarctica in this role.
Mr Campbell said he had enjoyed a “great life” during his time with the army and now it was time to give back.
“We run auctions in each town each year selling merchandise with proceeds going to an organisation of importance in that town,” he said.
“This year in Taroom we’ve chosen palliative care. All we’re doing is taking money from the town just to give it back to them but it’s towards a better thing, plus we add about $500 to the total ourselves.”
Rumblers members commented on the feeling of gratitude they had received from small towns throughout their five year mission and said rain, hail or shine, the group would continue their work well into the future.