Southeast Qld Anzac Day commemorations in COVID-19 lockdowns

People in Brisbane, on the Gold Coast and across southeast Queensland have stood apart, together to pay their respects on an Anzac Day unlike any other. SEE THE PICTURES

QUEENSLANDERS paid their respects to veterans at dawn, abiding by social isolation rules as they stood apart, together.

On their balconies and with their dogs, Hamilton residents from early dawn stood 1.5 metres apart as they remembered those who fought for our country.

People stand outside their homes at dawn to commemorate Anzac Day in Brisbane. Picture: Dan Peled

Enoggera First Signal Regiment Former Veteran John Ryan said despite the different circumstances this Anzac Day, the “simplicity” made it “the best” dawn service.

“I think it’s lovely people have still recognised (Anzac Day) in these circumstances, we’re all very appreciative,” Mr Ryan told the Sunday-Mail.

“It’s easy to say ‘let’s just cancel it,’ but it’s been one of the best ANZAC Days, just by the simplicity of it all and being surrounded by such like-minded people who want to show their respects,

“There’s no bitterness,” Mr Ryan added.

IN PICTURES: How southeast Qld marked Anzac Day

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Former Veteran Jim McMillan stood by his wife Suellen McMillan as he “cast (his) mind back to times (he) was in uniform”; serving in the army and fighting in Vietnam.

“For me, this is a time to cast my mind back to times when we were in uniform, so coronavirus measures haven’t made things particularly different for me,” Mr McMillan said.

The veteran said it’s important people realise the impact war had, and still has, on those who fought.

“You realise there are going to be casualties and not just physically, mentally, too,” Mr McMillan said.

“I have so many mates who experience PTSD and effects of the war still to this day, people who struggle to reach their full potential because of it”.

Lilia Bernede sent us this incredible video of her son Sebastian Bernede-Beresford playing The Last Post for their...

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Mr McMillan said he’ll give fellow former serving members a call after he spends the morning alongside his wife.

“Even with social distancing, the good thing is you can just reach people by phone, I call (fellow veterans) all the time for a chat”.

Mrs McMillan said this year the service is different for them, as they usually gather with family and friends, but wasn’t upset they had to take a different approach this year.

“The grandkids are missing out this year, but they’re doing their own thing,” Mrs McMillan said.

“They’ve made ANZAC muffins and Anzac biscuits and sent us photos through, they looked really nice”.

Alastair Tomkins and his nine year-old son Hugo play The Last Post in their driveway, at dawn, as neighbours stand outside their homes to commemorate Anzac Day in Brisbane. Picture: Dan Peled

Musical Student Laura Jones played the trumpet at the Hamilton Reach community dawn service, and said it’s a “special moment” to be involved.

“Being a trumpet player, it’s one of the ways to give back to the community,” Ms Jones said.

“It’s quite a special moment, once you start playing you really just forget everything else and remember those who fought for us, it’s quite surreal and emotional.”
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has called today an “Anzac Day like no other.”

Ms Palaszczuk participated in a scaled-back Anzac Day service at 4:28am, where she laid a wreath in Brisbane CBD before also Lighting Up the Dawn at home.

She said she was “deeply moved by the outpouring of support for this year’s Anzac Day” despite services, ceremonies and marches being cancelled due to COVID-19.

“We’ve never seen an Anzac Day like this,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“What I love about Queenslanders and Australians who also took to their driveways across the country, is that no matter what, we honour our ANZACs.

“When events were cancelled, we saw this incredible movement helped by social media where people were making displays, sharing them online and pledging to take part at home.”

She said Queenslanders had shown the spirit of the ANZACs “lives on in every one of us”.

“And you never know, we may have just started a new tradition,” Ms Palaszczuk added.

People commemorate Anzac Day at dawn on Currumbin Beach on the Gold Coast. Picture: Dave Hunt

GOLD COAST COMMEMORATIONS

AS the Last Post rang out at dawn across Surfers Paradise beach this morning, many Queenslander’s came out onto their high-rise balconies and looked on.

Others filled the usually busy Glitter Strip foreshore and the beach below, where large speakers also broadcast the national anthem and ode.

Despite being one of many Anzac Day services that looked a little different this year amid the COVID-19 crisis, the spirit remained the same, Surfers Paradise RSL sub-branch president Len Guest said.

People commemorate Anzac Day at dawn on Currumbin Beach on the Gold Coast. Picture: Dave Hunt

“We couldn’t do much this year and this was kind of a spur moment sort of thing but it’s really good to see such a good turn out with everyone adhering to the social distancing,” he told The Sunday Mail.

“Today is about remembering all the lads that didn’t come back and the women and all those who went before us and the spirit of that remains no matter how or where you remember.”

Mr Guest, who was a National Serviceman, said he would spend Anzac Day making a few calls to his mates given they couldn’t see each other in person.

Another veteran who served in the Australian Army for 44 years, Alec Gabriel, said he was disappointed he had to celebrate Anzac Day in this way because of the global pandemic.

“I know they’ve tried but I still feel it’s a bit wrong the way its been played down,” he said.

“Many people lost their lives and standing in your drive I don’t think is really honouring them.”

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LOGAN COMMEMORATIONS

THERE is no way the coronavirus took away the Anzac spirit in the suburb of Shailer Park at Logan with the day feeling as patriotic as ever in the hilly street of Chatswood Road.

Some donned thongs and dressing gowns while they stood in their driveways, but others were in full official dress and wore past relatives medals with pride.

Many lined their driveways from 5.30am and The Last Post bellowed through the streets just before 6am with a haunting echo as homes paid tribute to the fallen any way they could.

Some had an ipad in the driveway screening a service while others held up phones and some even displayed large speakers.

Asha Golledge, 4, and Isla Golledge, 1, of Shailer Park with the makeshift poster they created for Anzac Day. Picture: Jeni Faulkner

Flags and many candles flickered in the early morning dawn with a group of 10 from one unit block standing proudly in the crisp air as an elderly woman was propped on a chair near a speaker to take part in the tribute.

It has been 105 years since the Gallipoli landing.

Of the 417,000 people in the Australian Imperial Force during the First World War, 57,705 were Queenslanders.

Many never returned home.