Anzac Day 2008

Australia's day of national remembrance is held on the 25th of April each year. It represents the day, figuratively speaking, that Australia (and New Zealand) became a national as it was the first time, in 1915, that it had gone to war as its own country and not for Britain. The fact that the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) were still commanded by inept British leaders is beside the fact.

Every year I pay my respects for those that fought to maintain the beliefs and freedoms that I now use. The day starts with a pre-dawn visit to the State War Memorial in Kings Park. It's the only day, other than Christmas Day, where so many people get up so early. Prior to 6am we are shown footage and provided with commentary on a battle that Australian and other allies fought in. At six the formal ceremony begins with wreath laying and a speech by a prominent military officer. It was Commodore Shandler this year, I believe. There was no cannon firing this year but we were treated to a flyover by a Roulette and a formation of biplanes.

Kings Park War Memorial Cenotaph in the hour before dawn.

Perth skyline from Kings Park.

Names of the fallen below the Cenotaph.

Flags at half mast as a sign of respect for the fallen.

Biplane flyover.

Cenotaph inscription.

Flame of Remembrance - Let Silent Contemplation be your Offering.

Large crowd in attendance - estimated at 40,000.

THE ODE

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.

LEST WE FORGET

The playing of the Last Post is more spine-tingling than watching any horror movie (Miky and I watched "The Eye" from Hong Kong last night).

Following the dawn service I did my fruit and veg shopping before returning home to have a nice hot breakfast. Even made breakfast in bed for the missus - Anzac Day fills me with pride and some adrenalin. She looks after me every day so it is the least I can do. After brekkie the boy and I attended the Anzac Day Parade in Perth. I'm very glad that he was happy to go and enjoyed himself. There were some old diggers marching and it was a lovely day.

I found it rather ironic that, at this stage, this is the second wettest April on record, being only 3mm short of the record, and with four days with rain forecast to finish off the month, that it didn't rain. It is traditional for it to rain on Anzac Day.


Digger showing us how to have a shave digger-style

So many campaign medals - poor digger can't stand up straight.

Anzac Day 2008 Parade a.

Anzac Day 2008 Parade b.

Anzac Day 2008 Parade Royal Australian Engineers Flag.

Anzac Day 2008 Parade Royal Australian Engineers Tunnel Rats Vietnam Flag.

Anzac Day 2008 Parade c.

Anzac Day 2008 Parade Army Band.

Anzac Day 2008 Parade Korea+ & S.E. Asia Vets Association Flag.

Anzac Day 2008 Parade Normany Veterans Flag.

Anzac House - the place to be to catch up with your mates.

There certainly weren't too many survivors from the Normandy D-Day Landings that marched. Numbers were thin amongst the over 80s. It is sad to see their numbers dwindling. The march was almost as disorganised as the Gallipoli landing as you were unable to tell which line was going to march and the diggers themselves didn't seem to know either.

Just to round off a great day after preparing a roast vegetable lunch (haven't I been a good boy today?) I get to sit down and watch Essendon play Collingwood in the traditional Anzac Day blockbuster at the MCG. Now, I was thinking at six o'clock this morning when eight magpies landed on the Cenotaph at War Memorial and started warbling that that might be an omen for the match. The were already "crowing" about winning it. And so it turned out. To the tune of 73 points no less. Ruined a good day of paying respects for those that have sacrificed so much for our way of life. And the dishing out has begun already. And I so deserve it.

ANZAC Day Wrap

Yes, it was a busy day. According to the news there were 30-40000 people in attendance at Kings Park for the ANZAC Day dawn service. I was a bit surprised by the number. Luckily the rain held off. It is wonderful to see so many people paying their respect to the men and women who have served this country in times of war. Apart from the couple of people who brought their dogs and others with noisy kids. But there were very few disturbances.

The State War Memorial

Some of the 30-40000 thousand people paying their respects to the fallen.

Perth just after dawn, ANZAC Day 2007.

Flame of Rememberance.

Biplane flyover.

After the official ceremony, which included the Last Post being played on the bugle which always sends a chill up my spine, people were allowed to lay their own wreaths and walk around the memorial. I returned home shortly afterwards and managed to miss most of the traffic jam as I had parked a 10 minute walk away from Kings Park. Not so silly.

Traffic jam trying to leave.

Everyone else was up and we had breakfast. This was the second breakfast I had had for the day but I didn't tell anyone. The young fella and I jumped in the car to head back to the city for the ANZAC Day parade. We secured a reasonable spot and I ended up taking some 210 photos. Thankfully, not all of them will be included. I promise.

ANZAC Day Parade just starting.

11th and 28th Battalions Australian Infantry Force.

Aussie soldiers with a common service medal (possibly from the Gulf War).

Decorated naval personnel.

More decorated naval personnel.


There was one lady watching the parade calling out , "Thankyou guys/ladies. We think you are wonderful!" to every passing group of marchers. I'm sure that she was well received and appreciated.

Australian Women%27s Army Service 1941-1946.

Onya Digger.

This old Digger had too many medals to allow him to walk. Maybe.

Engineers were involved in conflict too.

Engineers were involved in conflict too II.

Fighter Squadrons of Western Australia.

Hello sailor.

Older veterans in jeeps.

Regiment involved in the Galipolli landing.

Police served in conflicts as well.

Vietnam Veterans 1962-1973.

Vietnam Veterans 1962-1973 II.

After the parade we bought some mandoo for lunch from Seoul Mart. The Aussie girl who was served before me spoke to the shop assistant in Korean so I did too. He was so surprised he said, "Everybody is speaking Korean!"

The footy was on after lunch - Essendon vs Collingwood. A genuine blockbuster with over 90000 fans in attendance. Normally the form team loses. And so was the case yesterday, which is a bummer because I'm an Essendon supporter and they were the form team but they went down by 17 points. Collingwood's hideous inaccuracy kept them in the match, it must be said. During the ad breaks I washed the dishes and helped Yu-Jin set up his army men. We had watched a bit of "The Desert Rats", a movie about the Rats of Tobruk - more. He set up trenches and the like that he had seen in the movie.

About 10 minutes before the footy finished Miky yelled at me to get outside to do the gardening which she had been doing on her own for the best part of two and a half hours. I told her when the footy would be finished and later on explained that our deal whereby I would do gardening until sunset only started once the footy had concluded. What right has she to get upset with me watching three hours of football anyway?

So, we spent the next three hours gardening together. I did the hole-digging/throw in soil conditioner/mix it up bit. Then we planted new grass for an edging effect. Can't believe we spent the afternoon taking out lawn grass and transplanting it to areas on the lawn that badly needed it and then placed more expensive grass in its place. It does look nice and three Xanadu plants were put into the garden as well.

Both too stuffed to cook tea afterwards so it was pizza on the menu. I filled Miky's car up with fuel before picking up the pizzas. The EFTPOS wasn't working at the petrol station and the young boy was having to charge credit cards manually. He wanted me to visit an ATM and withdraw cash to pay for my purchase. I explained that it was a credit card and not a bankcard therefore I wouldn't be making a cash advance. He wasn't too pleased as customers were waiting but I guess they would have been in the same boat. Who pays for petrol with cash these days?

Bit of an early night after a shower and story for the boy. I fell asleep after reading the story so that was the end of my night.