Radschool Association Inc Magazine

Vol 78

Page 17

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Continued from Page 10

Contents:

ANZAC Day

ANZAC Day March - Sydney.

Birdwood House, Geraldton.

ANZAC Day 2022

ANZAC Day was celebrated in towns and cities all over Australia - and also in Scotland. James "Scotty" Potter sent us these pics.

Scotty served with 2 Sqn in Vietnam from April 1969 to March 1970 and every year since returning to his home in Scotland has remembered and celebrated ANZAC Day with a bunch of his mates.

Pictured here with Charlie Brown, MBE.

Headstones of Kiwi Airmen and War Memorial, Arbroath Western Cemetery

At the War Memorial, Arbroath Western Cemetery. The gents with green berets are ex Royal Marines.

War Memorial, Arbroath Western Cemetery. LT Col Warren Coaker ADF taking the salute.

Self with Charlie Brown MBE, the ex-President of the Royal British Legion - Scotland Division.

Edinburgh Castle Scottish National War Memorial and Chapel.

Self laying a wreath for Australian Veterans, being witnessed by AVM Ross Patterson Air Officer Scotland, Rear Admiral Mark Beverstock National President Royal British Legion Scotland, Major General William Wright Military Secretary and General Officer Scotland.

Click the pic to see the image in the centre of the wreath.

ANZAC Day Edinburgh Castle Chapel at Scottish War Memorial.

The two kids were visiting from Victoria, nurturing the Spirit of ANZAC in a new generation. They were holidaying in England about 4 hours down from Edinburgh. Their dad goes to Dawn Services in Aus and when he heard about the one in Edinburgh they drove all the way up. As fate would have it we were in the same hotel, and met in the lift. So we made a plan to get these shots of kids with flags at the Scottish War Memorial in the Edinburgh Castle. They also put the poppies on the grave of the airman at the Dawn Service.

Edinburgh Castle steps of Scottish War Memorial.

Para's and self discussing how we can stay out of trouble for the rest of the day. Failed!

Portcullis - Edinburgh Castle.

It looks a bit cold up there mate, we thought we'd throw this one in to remind you of what you're missing.

Currumbin, Gold Coast.

For 20 years, Currumbin RSL has held an ANZAC Day Dawn Service which has developed over time to become an iconic Queensland Event with a national audience. Ron Workman had a lot to do with inaugurating the event.

From humble beginnings the event has grown and matured to a well known service held at Elephant Rock, Currumbin and resulting in the attendance of close to 10,000 people in 2012 and a national telecast to over half a million people. Channel 7’s national show ‘Sunrise’ has covered the service on site every year since 2007. Sunrise has also done a live cross of the Dawn Service to Gallipoli – taking Currumbin RSL’s event global.

The Currumbin RSL Dawn Service begins with a march along Murabba Street at Currumbin Beach. The march consists of both service and ex-service men and women along with their families and the families of those who have lost someone in war. In 2012 the march was led by Keith Payne VC OAM DSC SS and four Light Horsemen. The presence of the Mudgeeraba Light Horsemen on steeds and the Albert Battery provide visual representation and act as a reminder of our past times of conflict. The march ends at Elephant Rock at Currumbin Beach at 5am and a lone piper plays signifying the commencement of the official service.

The service runs for approximately one hour and takes place with the vast open ocean as backdrop, symbolic of the Gallipoli foreshore where the ANZACs met their fate in 1915. The service includes a laying of wreaths at the Memorial Plaque and video footage from wars throughout history where Australian and New Zealand soldiers fought. All this is followed by a poignant address by the Chaplin, Father Tony Gunter. Music plays throughout the service which creates a reverent feeling through the crowd.

Currumbin RSL incorporates a variety of young community members from Surf Life Saving Nippers to local school children who assist Currumbin RSL Sub Branch members in the traditional “releasing of the doves” as a symbolic gesture for world peace. It is also tradition that Currumbin RSL selects two school aged youth to assist in singing the Australian and New Zealand National Anthems and the winner of the Federal Member’s Essay Competition who communicates their thoughts on the ANZACs and what the day means to them.

For some years, Ron Workman OAM (Currumbin RSL President) was at the helm and the roll of honour would precede a veteran’s ashes taken out to sea. The burial ashes released at sea is a final and fitting gesture and unique to Currumbin RSL and incorporates the Currumbin Vikings’ Boat Crew. This part of the service first took place in 2008 with the number of requests increasing each year. In 2012 nine Veteran’s ashes were put to rest which included three couples who wished to depart together. This has added a significant and moving activity to what was already a full service.

Each year the number in attendance at the Dawn Service increases with thousands lining the beach and this audience includes people of all ages. Currumbin RSL supplies large screens and professional outdoor sound equipment to provide excellent viewing and sound for all attendees. The RSL also provides and coordinates several return courtesy buses to and from the service from both the RSL and the local shopping centre and runs extensive preliminary meetings with all stakeholders.

This day is also an opportunity to pay respect for all those involved in Australia’s Military history. The key objectives being to convey, pride, respect, national identify and unity with gratitude and thanks.

Some photos of the 2022 event are included below: (Click each pic for a bigger copy.)

Mt Isa.

Peter Roberts sent us this.

Hundreds of Mount Isa residents paid their respects at an Anzac Day ceremony on Monday, despite rainy conditions. This year was the first time in two years that Anzac Day ceremonies could be held at full capacity, with many locals taking the opportunity to remember the fallen.

Mount Isa's Anzac Day started with a dawn service followed by a gunfire breakfast and then the march and formal ceremony. Local delegates, schools, community groups and veterans took part in the march down West Street to the Mount Isa City Council Cenotaph.

Mount Isa City Council Mayor Danielle Slade said it was fantastic to see such a large turn-out, even in the rain. She said “"Today is a significant day for all Australians and New Zealanders. It's a day we remember our fallen, beginning with those who fell in the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915. It's a day to remember their sacrifice, their pain and their fear.

We gather not to glorify war but to remind ourselves that we value who we are and the freedoms we possess and acknowledge the courage, determination and sacrifice of those brave service people and those who continue to serve.”

Click the pic below to see ANZAC Day in the Isa.

RAAF Amberley.

George Hatchman sent us this.

There was a small ceremony held in the Memorial Gardens at Amberley.

Bull Creek - Perth.

Ted McEvoy sent us this.

An ANZAC Day Dawn Service was held at 5:50am at the RAAF Association Memorial Estate located in Bull Creek, Perth. The commemoration was attended by approximately 100 people who enjoyed the short but solemn service after which a morning cuppa was shared with friends.

Perth put on a fantastic sunrise as can been seen in the pics.

“Lest We Forget”.

Bull Creek RAAF Memorial Village Aircraft Museum.

ANZAC Day, Sydney, 2022

Click the pic below to see the RAAF contingent in the March held in the Sydney CBD. Down there it looks like they mix the old and the new, ex-Service Associations clip onto the back of a serving branch. We feel the RSL in Brisbane runs their event much more professionally. Uniforms first with Associations separate and following. Those in uniform make an attempt to look professional but if the old and the new are coupled together the side is let down by the Association stragglers.

Have a look.

Geraldton.

Ken Morris sent us these.

ANZAC Day in Geraldton, WA, dawned fine and clear over the largest crowd that had assembled at Birdwood house in years. The Scouts and Guides had held vigil over the cenotaph from 5 pm until stood down at 5.25am by Sergeant Jason Hoare, who travelled to Geraldton from his base in Townsville, to act as the Flag Marshall.

At 5.45am the marchers stepped off from McDonald’s Restaurant and marched to Birdwood House, aided by a drum tap from 711 Sqn Air Force Cadets.

Parade Commander WO2 Peter Gerada of Pilbara Regiment F Troop called fall out and Catafalque Party comprising members of the 11th Battalion AIF Living History Unit Inc fell in under the command of Ron Hayward. Geraldton RSL President Barry Stinson introduced distinguished guests, MC Warren Nathan and the Reverend Garry Hamersley.

The normal commemoration service followed with Bugler Lina Gedero performing the last Post and Reveille. Following the wreath laying a flyover of three light aircraft from the Mid-West Aero Club was led by Paul Pettet.

The COVID related 2 square metre rules applicable at the time restricted the attendance at the gunfire breakfast to 128 persons who had given proof of vaccination. This was achieved through issuing tickets to members and affiliates who had established their vaccination status in advance.

Approximately 2000 members of the public attended the ANZAC Dawn Service in Geraldton, WA. The flag marshal was serving Army member Sergeant Jason Hoare, who travelled to Geraldton from his army unit in Townsville to perform this duty.

Veterans in the main service march as they approach the forecourt of Birdwood House.

Veterans assembled for the dawn service at Birdwood House, Geraldton.

Birdwood House, Geraldton City RSL Sub-Branch.

A number of wounded soldiers who returned to Geraldton after the Dardanelles Campaign (Gallipoli) gathered in Geraldton on 25 April 1917 to form a branch of the Returned Soldiers Association. The next year they organised Geraldton’s first ANZAC Day service.

Between 1917 and 1935 the RSL headquarters was in Marine Terrace. Originally known as the Soldiers’ Institute, then the Esplanade Hotel and the Ocean View Guest House. This building was later demolished but planning had already begun to make available land in Chapman Road.

Funds from local business and citizens enabled the Birdwood House to be built, with the Memorial Obelisk unveiled by then Lt. Governor Sir James Mitchell, GCMG, on 1 September 1935. Two years later, Field Marshall Sir William Birdwood, who commanded the ANZAC Corps at Gallipoli and after whom the building was named, visited and was presented with a gold key and Freedom of Birdwood House.

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