Anzac Dawn Service Melbourne 2007

 

Woke at 4:15am without aid of alarm and learned that the Zac part of our alliamce was in trouble against Sri Lanka in the world cup semi.I dressed for the cold but it was so mild I was perspiring by the time I reached the shrine.Only the navy band was visible in a pool of light on the shrine's steps and as if to order the Southern Cross stood guard over us. The format of the service was much more interesting and tasteful than the previous one I had attended.A narrator kept our attention for 20 minutes or so before it began, with stories and readings from poems, Journalistic eye witness and memoires.Interesting to hear Les Carlyon deferred to more than Bean and both this and the prospect of Andrew Denton reporting from Gallipoli underscore the passing of the baton of reportage to a new generation. Two young Anzac scholarship winners spoke about what the achievements and values of the Diggers meant to them and future generations.It was good to hear the much more significant Western Front engagements getting a mention rather than just the failure at Gallipoli and in particular Fromelles and Villers-Bretonneux,which reminded me of my visit to those fields in 2005.(Seems a young French student from there is coming to train as a Jackeroo-is this a sign of the French opening up to the world?) A coffee kiosk and the presence of an ABC outside broadcasting studio with Red Symonds doing his early thing added to the Australian flavour, whereas the playing of God save the Queen (which, the commentator reminded us,would have been sung and respected by the Anzacs of old)the choral contribution of the Australian "WELSH" Male Voice Choir and the use of a bagpiper to lead people to the Gunfire breakfast paid deference to both our pommie and celtic affiliations.All sorts of people attended-some in uniform and more than one dressed in a manner that belied the message of the medals they sported (assumimg ofcourse that the wearers had earned them) Smartly suited young men with sharp back and sides haircuts and a proliferation of decorations reminded me that the "end of all wars" has still not been achieved and why there are additional blank panels on the memorials in Canberra and at HYde Park Corner in London.I wondered why more Collingwood colours were in evidence than those of Essendon-should social researchers with instant answers for everything take note? perhaps Kevin Rudd would have a view on this too.Hugh Mackay certainly would.Never seen Joe's Garage so crowded at that time in the morning and the big breakfast was very welcome. Good way to sign off before leaving Australia for some time. I am glad I went.
The book by one of my mates, Richard Hale, referenced below is about a contemporary example of Anzac like spirit.
BOOK REFERENCE:-About perseverence courage and leadership-Keep Walking By Alan Chambers and Richard Hale.Published by RHA Publications Bristol UK