OzSTOC
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: StinkyPete on April 25, 2014, 09:09:37 AM
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I've just come home from an Anzac Day Dawn Service at our local suburban memorial. Thousands had gathered to pay tribute to our past and present servemen and women, and those who have fallen in service of Australia, so that we may have the lifestyle and standard of living that we enjoy in this the "Lucky Country".
I cannot help but think back to a most memorable Anzac Day service that I attended at Glen Helen, west of Alice Springs in 2009, when I was riding from Alice Springs back home. Here's an extract from my diary of that day........
".... there was a very small Anzac Service held out the front of the old homestead. There were no more than 15 of us there, with most being staff. The resident muso played "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda", and the old Redgum song "He was only 19". A poem was read, the Last Post was played on the guitar, a minute of silence was observed, and the flag was raised. The floral wreath wreath laid by the manager was made up of a foam vegetable box adorned with a mass of wildflowers, and it was so appropriate. We all then sang the National Anthem. It was a very simple, moving, and reverent service, and there were tears all 'round. After lunch I went for a spin out to Tylers Pass, and the lookout which overlooks Gosse Bluff, a meteorite impact crater. This is a new section of sealed road which goes for another 44 km west from Glen Helen. Nice road with plenty of corners! I spent the afternoon sitting alone by the 100 million year old Finke River which runs below the ancient cliffs and through the Glen Helen Gorge. I needed this easy restful day after some long miles and some emotional highs and lows. The words of the Psalm came flooding to me.... "He leads me beside still waters and restores my soul...." It is exactly how I felt, and I was relieved that I had found a place and time to chill out, and revive my own weary soul. I spent the evening listening to the live music, and sharing wine and stories with other travelers."
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Pete, thank you for sharing your personal account :-++
Attended the ANZAC dawn service here this morning, and off to standby at the ANZAC march here in town soon. Following this we along with some other emergency service workers attend a memorial located in the middle of a paddock were 2x RAAF members paid the ultimate price on the outskirts of the township after crashing in a F1-11 in 1993, while on a training exercise.
Lest we Forget
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Nice one Pete, we have great opportunities in this country to do exactly as you have....thanks to the sacrifices of servicemen and women who gave there all to protect this great nation.
We will remember them
Lest we forget
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Powerful stuff Pete. Thanks for sharing most appropriately.
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I cheered the Darwin parade from the footpath this year. I didn't think I make it to the end if I marched in my motorcycle boots.
Its not the biggest parade I've ever seen but it had Marines, Abrahams tanks (60 tons), Blackhawks and F18s. That ought to keep the screaming hordes from invading from the north.
Heading home tomorrow.
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I was planning to attend a local Dawn Service, but I got called in to work to deal with a battery for a Malay C130 (looking for lost planes). I'm going to miss the Mumby Pub run tomorrow as well, as I have just been informed that another C130 battery needs to be serviced so the planes can fly home tomorrow....
:||||
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Well, I didn't make it to the 6.00am service but I did attend the 11.00am service and laid the wreath on behalf of the Ambulance Service in our district. It's always a moving service. I'm not a returned serviceman myself as I was lucky enough to have missed out on all the wars, but my grandpa served and was wounded in the first world war, he lost an eye and was severely gassed. I remember him well and I also remember having his medals when I was very little, but don't know what became of them unfortunately. :-[
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Marched with the SES in the Cairns parade in the rain today. I'm not an ex-serviceman but I think it is important to be involved to honoir those who have done their bit for our country.
Those who have met me may recognise the fat bearded guy marching about halfway through this video...
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=1469215319980439 (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=1469215319980439)
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Yep I did see you Craig :-++ you were the one in the orange overalls right :nahnah
:beer
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How very perceptive of you..... :fp
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Yep I did see you Craig :-++ you were the one in the orange overalls right
Nah. He's the one out-of-step in the opening freeze-frame. :grin
Goodonya for marching, though. It's a bit like the old Civil Defence.
Or was that "Dad's Army"?
Good volunteer effort, anyway.
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It was a real effort to keep in step when we were going so slow and the girls in front of me couldn't do a decent stride. I tried playing all the old marches I remembered from my brass band days in my mind but we ended up going so slow it all turned to crap.
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I wouldn't be too concerned with how you marched, the fact is you marched!! well done big fella!! :like
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Having marched in most of the last 48 Anzac Days I was full of mixed emotions when I wasnt marching this year. I plan to attend the 100th Anniversary Dawn Service somewhere next year. Probably Melbourne, but otherwise the Canberra one. Apparently 60,000 people attended Melbourne this year, so next year should be enormous. I have been in a band at two dawn services and they are very special times. Cold and rain add to the poignant atmosphere.
This year I figured that 720km was too many for Saturday morning, and so was riding towards Mannum on Anzac Day. There must have been 3-400 people at the service at Beaufort. It is good to see support for Anzac Day all over the country. Large and small services everywhere.
It was too good an opportunity for a decent shakedown ride for Ruby, and to test the camping setup last weekend so entries in calendar for next year.