Every April, Council gardeners prepare the flower beds in Seymour Square for the Anzac Day commemorations.
The colourful display of flowers is removed and beds prepared for the commemorative white crosses, placed by RSA members as a mark of respect to locals who died during war.
Anzac honours the contribution of all servicemen and women and commemorates the day Australian and New Zealand soldiers (the Anzacs) landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915 during World War One.
The goal of the campaign was to capture the Dardanelles, a key route to the Black Sea. About 16,000 troops landed at Gallipoli that day facing fierce resistance from Turkish troops with both sides suffering huge casualties.
Anzac Day was first observed in 1916 and is when ceremonies rich in tradition and ritual are held at war memorials throughout New Zealand, Australia and around the world.
In Marlborough, ceremonies are held throughout the province from Ward to Wairau Valley and as far as French Pass and Mary’s Bay in the outer Sounds. A combination of dawn, morning and midday services are held in Blenheim, Seddon, Renwick, Spring Creek, Havelock and Rai Valley.
Torea Saddle soldiers’ memorial, a popular rest stop for those on the Torea-Portage access road or the Queen Charlotte track, is one of the more remote war memorial sites. Last year new granite engraved plaques were installed there.
Ahead of time Council staff do an annual clean up to make sure all war memorial sites are looking their best for the commemorations.
