Anzac Day In Millgrove and Warburton

Anzac Day is significant public holiday in Australia and New Zealand when people stop to pay their respects to those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice in the wars of the last century and this century.  It is held on the anniversary of the landing of troops on the Gallipoli Peninsula on 25 April 1915.  This campaign has come symbolize the coming of age of Australia and every year large and small communities across the nation mark the day with a dawn service and/or a march to mark the sacrifice of those that their lives then and for those who have given their lives in the many conflicts since then and to mark the service of the surviving veterans of armed services who have served their country to this day.

https://www.awm.gov.au/exhibitions/dawn/plan/landing.asp

These photos are of the Millgrove Dawn Service and the Warburton march and service.

This post is dedicated to the memory of those whose names are recorded on the Millgrove and Warburton War Memorials.

Sonnet for ANZAC Day

Sound the Last Post again, lest we forget

the freedom that we cherish has been bought -

not found like mushrooms in the field; the debt

is ours to pay, mindful of those who fought

and fell - yet still they held the torch aloft!

May we remain as zealous to withstand

the traitors who would make our fibres soft,

as well as enemies beyond the land.

The trumpet has the power to move us still,

and though the debris of a flood of years

lies over hand and mind, an aching thrill

comes rising perilously close to tears.

Sound the Last Post to hold the memory bright,

then sound the Rouse and keep the torch alight.

Alf Wood