In memory of those that have served and the courage of those that gave their life in service. With thanks for those that continue to serve and their loved ones that remain at home, holding hope in their hearts.
Let this be an ode
To the men who will never
Sail Again
The men, who in the glory of their proud spirits
And the unselfish madness of their heroism
Have reached their Harbour on the other side
Age shall not weary them
Nor the years comdemn
May peace and tranquility
Be theirs, Always
Lest We Forget.
John G
Ex: LS/QMG RAN
HMA Ships Archer/ Advance/ Buccaneer
Just got back home from the dawn service here at Bullsbrook. We are privileged here because of the local RAAF training base. This year we had representitives from RAAF, RAAN, Republic of Singapore Air Force, The Brigade of Gurkhas (and yes they do look fearsome, would not want to mess with them), New Zealand Defence Forces, as well as the local Volunteer Fire Service (of which I am a member), Volunteer Ambo's, Air Scouts, local RSL and members of the public. The general crowd would have been about 100 (a bit down on normal. Probably some were away for Easter holidays. All in all, not bad for a tiny country town that competes with Perth for people interest.
Just home from march and service at Kenmore, where our grandkids marched with their school- Nbr 1 grandaughter wearing my father's medals with pride.
Interesting changes in format, Kenmore High School Captains were MCs for the service, about 2000 in attendance. Ranks of WW2 veterans now noticeably thinning and some frail.
This year my father would have turned 97, served AIF 1942-43 Kokoda - Buna & Salamoa, 1944-45 beach landings Aitape - Butt & Wewak - Dagua.
As the local RSL President summed it up, those who served and those who did not come home; would count their sacrifice worthwhile if we lived the other 364 days maintaining our national traditions, exercising our democartic freesdom, offering a fair go and caring for the those less fortunate.
Just home after driving down to Elephant Rock at Currumbin beach, Gold Caost at 3am. You may have seen the Channel 7 Sunrise broadcast from there this morning. I have been to several dawn services, but the crashing of the waves, the beach, the Sunrise through cloud on the ocean added to the moment.
As dawn broke eight surf boats from the local SLSC were off the beach to scatter the ashes of 8 local x service people including RAN & USMC who had passed since last Anzac Day, to the tune from one bagpiper ontop of the rock. It was very moving, very dignified.
The crowd was huge, a couple of thousand, indeed Anzac Day remains so very special. The message my wife and I took from this service was to clearly value our freedom and to thank those who have fought at great cost to preserve this and our way of life in Australia.
To all who have given and continue to give us this Thank You indeed.
Dawn April 25th 1915 was the date and time of the first time Australians participated in a major battle as a nation and not as individual colonies. The term ANZAC is the acronom for the combined forces of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corp. They fought on the Gallipoli peninsula along with the Kiwis and British forces and the French fought on the eastern side of the Dardenelles Straight. Unfortunately a major disaster but a bringing together of a young nation. After Galipoli the survivors whent on to fight at other battlefields including France and Belgium (with Canadians and French) and Palestine.
