Jun2013_Anzac Day 2013

Record crowds again attended the Anzac Day services.  It was obvious from the amount of calls and interest prior to Anzac Day that the day was again going to be huge.  The support for the dawn service, held at the WW1 cenotaph was exceptional.  From around 0500, the park surrounding the cenotaph quietly filled and was bulging by 0520 when the service commenced.

The thought was that people were attending the dawn service in preference to the main service, but not so.  An enormous crowd turned out later in the day for the parade and service as well.

The dawn service has its origins in an operational routine which is still practiced by the Australian Army today.  The half light of dawn plays tricks with soldier’s eyes and, from the earliest times, the half-hour or so before dawn, with all its grey misty shadows, became a favoured time for mounting an attack.  Soldiers in defensive positions were woken before dawn.  As the first dull grey light crept across the battlefield they were alert and manning their weapons.  This was, and still is known as “stand to” and is repeated at sunset.

After World War 1, returned soldiers sought the comradeship they felt in those quiet, peaceful moments before dawn.  With symbolic links to the dawn landing at Gallipoli at 4.29am. on the 25th. April 1915, a dawn stand-to or dawn ceremony became a common form of Anzac Day remembrance during the 1920’s. Hence Anzac Day as we now know it was born to honour the men and women who died and suffered in defence of our country, so we can live the lives we now lead in freedom, not to glorify war.

A lot of people contribute to the success of the day and thanks to Mrs Fealy and Mr and Mrs Glusky who raided their gardens once again to supply the flowers for the floral tributes and Margaret who spent the afternoon putting them together;  Richard Lance for both very moving services; Dale Tokley of Brisbane Bus Lines for supplying the bus and Maurice Weston for giving his time to transport people to and from the service; Harry Thompson for the bugle calls at both services; pipers Rod Richardson and Tom McGirr; Marjorie, Carmel, Joy and Allison and all their helpers for providing the breakfast and luncheon; the Apex Club, the Dayboro Junior Rugby League Sports Club, the Rodeo Association and the Rowe family for making contributions to cover costs of the day; Chris Giles of Healthy Lawns and Ben Smith for maintaining the gardens around the Memorial; the flag attendants Kevin Taylor, Greg Miller, Neil Rowe and everyone who helped set up chairs, cook breakfast, erect tents etc; Tommy Baillie and Gavin Kirkwood and anyone else who helped make the day so successful; and of course to everyone who attended.

It was also great to have so many young people there again and thanks for bringing your parents along.

Thanks also to the school representatives from Dayboro and Mt. Samson schools, Kira Andrews, Kiran Gampe, Torin Schneid and Charlotte Vincent who participated in the service along with Dayboro School Principal Garry Drummond.  These young people are a credit to their schools and communities.

Only a short 25 years ago we could hold our Anzac Day service in a one car garage and with no march at all.  It is often asked why the day has become so important to so many.  Most of the credit for this must go to our younger generations who have claimed ownership of this day and it seems more important to them than any other national day.  The spirit of Anzac is certainly safe in their hands and will live on.

The very talented Dayboro State School band again supplied the music for the service.  The number of wreaths and floral tributes increase each year and was once again very moving and the highlight of the service.

Also thanks to the Lions and in particular Dan Nugent for producing the music and for supplying and setting up the P.A. system.

Local Poet and author Russell Plunket was again joined by Lighthorse member Malcolm Stubbings for a stirring rendition of “When the Order Came to Ride”.

Thanks also to the Scouts who came early to set up and remove the chairs and for tidying up around the monument after the service. 

The school Anzac Day service we are invited to attend each year was again very very good.  It was a credit to the teachers and especially all the kids who all showed great discipline throughout the entire service.  Impressive.

The two-up at the Bowls Club was another great fun day and many thanks to Doug Hartley and the Apexians who helped again this year.  Thanks to the Bowls Club, Matilda Dayboro and Terry Morley for supplying the raffle prizes and also to our 2 UP players who kindly donated their losses to the War Memorial Association.  The money raised will help with the upkeep of the memorials and used to fund the 2015 Gallipoli landing anniversary.

Twenty two attended the annual Lions Diggers Luncheon this year and we thank the Dayboro Lions Club for giving us the opportunity to get together with other returned people and their families, many of whom only meet on these days and Anzac Day.  Thanks to Nikki and Pam and the footy club for providing an excellent meal and venue.  The after dinner presentation was excellent and this year was presented by Constable Paul Wappel who spoke on the Gallipoli landing and campaign.

RICHARD HAWKINS, CHAIRMAN, 

DAYBORO WAR MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION.