I have lived in Australia for over 50 years and had never been to an Anzac Day Ceremony. I have watched the parades in Adelaide on TV and found them quite moving. Margaret and I attended the simple Remembrance Day Ceremony in Tewantin four years ago which was carried out with dignity but apart from grumbling that the shops were closed never thought much about Anzac Day.
Yesterday I had walked Louis, tidied up the house and it was still 8.00am. I checked the local newspaper and saw that the local Anzac Day march was due to start at 8.45am and would be followed by the traditional ceremony at the War Memorial at 9.00am. I decided to ride my bike into Tewantin and watch the march.
The main street was shut off to traffic and the marchers were beginning to assemble at the opposite end of the street to the War memorial. I walked my bike to the far end and locked it to a street sign near the memorial and found myself a good spot next to an area reserved for the Tewantin Town Band.
Near bye were a group of teenagers dressed in Navy Ceremonial White uniforms. They were our local Sea Cadets and carried wooden replicas of modern rifles. Two lads and two girls were the Catafalque Guard Party and were under the charge of another teenager in uniform with Chief Petty Officer stripes. They were all larking about and their officer, a middle aged Lieutenant, had to bring them to order.
At 8.45am The Parade Commander called the Catafalque Party to mount, which, under the direction of the CPO, they did with dignity if not quite the precision of a Guardsman. They maintained their positions with the same respect throughout the 75 minutes of the ceremony. They were really great.
Next the parade began. It was headed by a Police Car leading a group of vintage and classic cars carrying Veterans who were too infirm to march the 500 metre length of Tewantin's main street. They were seated under shades as the Flag Party arrived and took up position in front of the Memorial and the Sea Cadets.
The main body of marchers followed. There were about a hundred Veterans accompanied by their children, grandchildren and even great grand children. They were followed by the local community groups such a scouts, the rest of the Sea cadets, local school children and finally the Tewantin State School Band.
The Veterans formed up behind the Flag Party and their families found good spots to watch the ceremony. The band sat down near me and the ceremony began with the Australian and New Zealand National Anthems. We had all been given a program which contained the words but I am ashamed to say that it was the worst rendition of any National Anthem that I have ever heard. Everybody, including me, appeared to be scared of singing out loud.
There was a good address by a a retired Brigadier who lives locally and an address by the President of the local Returned and Services League of Australia Sub Branch which I thought was a bit racist. The local C of E Vicar read the Twenty Third Psalm and gave short invocation and prayer.
Next we all did not sing Abide With Me. Another prayer and an address by a local school girl who is the Head Girl of the Sunshine Coast State High School about what Anzac Day mean to the today's youth which was very good.
Now it was time to lay the official wreaths and other individuals also laid their own floral tributes. The children were asked to lay Rosemary Sprigs as a sign of remembrance.
Finally the RSL Ode was read:
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
The Last Post Played and the ceremony was over.
The Flag Party were dismissed and the Catafalque Party Marched of with the same dignity they had shown throughout the ceremony only to become teenagers again when they were dismissed.
In spite of the small town atmosphere and the atrocious singing, I had found the whole ceremony very moving. The respect shown by the predominantly young audience was tremendous and the number of children present was great. Now if only we all could sing.
Over the last week I have gradually recovered from my cold. I made two MOW runs and went cycling with my club on Saturday morning. I am also preparing a talk to give to my Computer Club this Wednesday so I have been busy.
Easter Friday I went to my friend J's house for lunch with her 93 year old Mum and a couple of other friends staying with her from Brisbane. On Sunday I went to the Theatre in Nambour to see a play which my friend B starred in. He played the Pope in a 1970's US play about a Bronx Taxi Driver kidnapping the Pope. It was a comedy with a peace message. I went with B's wife J who had a complimentary ticket in the name of Mrs Pope but the Pope's friend had to pay!
Today is the fifth consecutive Public Holiday but the shops are open for reduced hours today so I am off shopping.
I attended the Dawn Service and the march this year and was absolutely thrilled that there where so many people of all ages attending. I was not thrilled to see the Bakery on the corner and the coffee shop over the road profiteering from those attending the march though.
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