Honouring Service: Downtown Toyota Proudly Supports Bulimba ANZAC Day 2025

At Downtown Toyota, we are proud to stand alongside the Bulimba community in honouring the service and sacrifice of our veterans. On Friday 25 April 2025, our team once again supported the Bulimba District RSL’s ANZAC Day commemorations, helping to manage parade safety and provide behind-the-scenes support for one of the most significant community events of the year.

The morning began with veterans, families, school groups and community members assembling at Bulimba Library at 7:00 AM, before stepping off at 7:30 AM for a moving procession along Oxford Street to Bulimba Memorial Park. Our Downtown Toyota volunteers, easily spotted in high-vis vests, assisted with traffic control and crowd support, helping ensure the parade route remained safe and respectful for all participants.

This year’s service was a particularly powerful reflection of how the event has grown. Brian Daley, President of the Bulimba District RSL Sub Branch, shared:

“When our Sub Branch took over the organisation of the parade and service in 2015, there were around 15 veterans marching and about 100 spectators. Now we have up to 60 veterans and, in recent years, crowds of around 10,000. It’s thanks to the support of groups like Downtown Toyota, local schools, and the community that we’ve been able to create such a dignified and meaningful commemoration.”

The ceremony featured stirring music from the Navy Band and sailors from HMAS Moreton, wreath-laying by eight local schools, and student readings that formed part of the formal service. In the lead-up to the day, Sub Branch members visited nursing homes, local childcare centres and schools to speak about the significance of ANZAC Day — including one moment where Brian read to preschoolers and accepted a handmade wreath, later laid at the memorial by his grandsons.

Nicole Hamilton, Head of Human Resources at Downtown Toyota, reflected on the day:

“Supporting ANZAC Day is one of the most meaningful ways we give back to our community. It’s an honour for our team members to be part of such an important day, and we’re proud to play a small role in helping the event run smoothly.”

Brian also reminded us that ANZAC Day is not only a time to honour those who have served and are serving — but to acknowledge those they leave behind. He shared the story of a Bulimba woman, Mrs Amelia Grayson, who lost her husband in World War I and later passed away herself, leaving behind seven children. Her story is just one of many that reflect the courage and endurance of families on the home front.

Downtown Toyota is honoured to support the Bulimba District RSL Sub Branch and deeply values the trust placed in us to help bring this important event to life. Our involvement is part of a broader commitment to meaningful, embedded community partnerships that reflect the spirit of service, sacrifice and unity.

Lest we forget.