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."
