Sunday, April 27, 2008

Daisy was very lucky to be able to go to Samara's 10th Birthday party. Samara is Vicki's youngest grand-daughter and there was a party held for the family to help Samara celebrate her birthday. Samara got a lot of presents and one was a giant freckle chocolate. Daisy was very pleased she was Samara's friend.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Anzac march

Daisy was honoured to be able to observe an Anzac Day march held in Goolwa on 20th April.
On 25 April every year, Australians commemorate ANZAC Day. It commemorates the landing of Australian and New Zealand troops at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. The date, 25 April, was officially named ANZAC Day in 1916. Local communities like Goolwa usually hold the march on the Sunday before Anzac Day so the public can observe. There is a march by veterans (David is a Mayalsian veteran) and a service at the centopath where wreaths are laid and a service held remembering the fallen.
On 25th April there is a dawn service held with no march and then a gunfire breakfast at the
RSL. One of the traditions of Anzac Day is the 'gunfire breakfast' (coffee with rum added).This year in Goolwa there were approx. 1000 people at the dawn service.

A small Australian country town before dawn. A steady stream of cars are converging to a central point, elderly couples are walking the streets. All are going to the Centopath in Goolwa.

The first streaks of the coming dawn flush the sky to the east. The silent crowd gathers, the buglar stands ready. All is quiet. The service begins with the RSL Chaplain leading. Prayers are said, lost veterans are remembered from all the wars that Australia had been in.

The sky is brilliant oranges and reds.

2 minutes silence.

The buglar plays The Last Post.

The Australian flag is lowered to half mast.

We all remember all those who didn’t come back from war and all those who did. We remember those that fought and died. Many ‘diggers’ in the silent gathering shed a tear.

The Reveille is played by the buglar. Wreaths are laid in rememberence and with reverence.

The sky changes from orange and red to gold and the sun rises.

We all remember.

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.