Thousands gather across Sunshine Coast to pay respects in Anzac Day services
Thousands have gathered at Anzac Day services today across the Sunshine Coast, including a 102-year-old World War II veteran. PHOTOS, VIDEO
Sunshine Coast
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Thousands of Sunshine Coast locals have gathered to march and pay respects to our fallen Anzac heroes for Anzac Day this year.
Veterans, families and friends gathered at the Kawana Waters RSL Sub Branch, near the Kawana Surf Club, alongside serving members and dignitaries.
Buddina State School students, Brightwater State School students, army cadets, veterans, dignitaries and special guests marched at Kawana today, at 10.35am.
The master of ceremonies Tracy Woolley then addressed the crowd.
“Today we come together as a nation to honour and remember those men and women of our Australian and New Zealand Defence Forces who made the supreme sacrifice so that we may live our lives in peace and safety,” she said.
Honorary guest Gary Penney, who previously served for our country for more than 30 years, was next to address the local crowd.
He read a war poem written by a close veteran friend of his, too.
“It’s been said by some that Anzac Day is about glorifying war, about celebrating victories over our enemies. But that is not only wrong but it’s harmful and hurtful to our veterans and their families,” Mr Penney said.
“The reality is today is a day for us to remember the gift given to us by all current and ex-service men and women.
“Their gift to us is choice. As with all gifts there’s a purpose. The purpose of this gift is to provide each and every one of us with the freedom of choice.
“Across this great nation of ours... we are free to choose where we live, how we live, to study and get an education, how we work and it gives us a right to travel where and when we choose.
“We can choose how we’ll be governed and by whom.
“We’re free from tyranny and oppression.”
DAWN SERVICES
Thousands of Sunshine Coast locals have gathered early to pay respects to our Anzac heroes at dawn services across the region.
Veterans, families and friends gathered at the Kawana Waters RSL sub branch, near the Kawana Surf Club, alongside serving members and dignitaries to pay respects at the annual Dawn Service.
Sunshine Coast turned out in the thousands across the coast including for services from as early as 4.30am.
Tracy Woolley was the master of ceremonies and led the charge as hundreds from Kawana and its surrounds paid their respects and laid wreaths.
“Today we do not celebrate or glorify war,” Ms Woolley told the crowd.
“Anzac Day is a day where we reflect on the cost of war and the damage it causes to those who fight and those who at home as a result have lost their friends and loved ones.
“We stand here this morning with the sound of the ocean nearby and we remember those young men of this nation and New Zealand who on Sunday, April 25, 1915, landed in the face of certain death at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli, Turkey.
“Those brave young men lit the torch, the spirit of the ANZAC.
“We remember them today … and support all those still burdened by the pain of their wounds.”
After the service, large crowds remained around the Shrine of Remembrance for their own reflection and to lay a wreath.
World War II Veteran Adrian Nall, 102, was in attendance with his stepdaughter Janet Mullins, grandson Christopher Mullins, and his great grandson Max Mullins, 5.
His stepdaughter, Janet Mullins, said today meant a lot to Mr Nall and his family.
Ms Mullins’ mother also served in the British air force during World War II, her father also served.
Mr Nall’s first wife was an Australian Army Nurse, they were married for 56 years.
“Following the war he lived a good life and is now doing well for 102 in a nursing home where they look after him very well,” Ms Mullins said.
“He was a radio operator in the war in New Guinea.
“My son has also been in the navy (Christopher).”
Ms Mullins said it was incredibly special to have Mr Nall and little Max together for the dawn service today.
“He’s very interested in it,” she said.
“I think it’s absolutely amazing how many young people are here today paying their respects.”
SPECTACULAR SCENES AT MOOLOOLABA’S ANZAC DAY SERVICE
At Mooloolaba, the dawn service featured a raised oar salute from surf boats crews during the minute’s silence.
Boat crews paddled out, laying wreaths of native Australian flowers and then raised their oars as the haunting sounds of the Last Post sounded across the solemn crowd of more than 5000 people.
In the lead-up to the service, traffic coming into Mooloolaba was bumper to bumper with hundreds, including parents with young children, scurrying to find a place on the beach to watch the 5am service.
Highlights included a performance by the Sunshine Coast Grammar School Bel Canto Choir, and a didgeridoo solo performance by Peter Tilney.
The 15th Dawn Service on the beach heard a moving account of the service of the 9th battalion, the first recruited from Queensland.
Lieutenant Duncan Chapman, from Maryborough was remembered as the first Anzac ashore on the chaotic landing which saw the loss of most of the battalion to either death or injury within the first two days of fighting.
The Queenslander wrote home: ‘I happened to be in the first boat that reached the shore, and, being in the bow at the time, I was the first man to get ashore’. One of his men later confirmed this.
The service heard the 9thAustralian Infantry Battalion was raised within weeks of the declaration of war in August 1914 and embarked just two months later.
After preliminary training, the battalion sailed to Egypt, arriving in early December. It joined as part of the 3rd Brigade which was the covering force for the ANZAC landing
on 25 April 1915, and so was the first ashore at around 4.30am.
The battalion was heavily involved in establishing and defending the front line of the ANZAC beachhead. It served at ANZAC until the evacuation in December 1915.
Later it sailed for France and the Western Front. The battalion’s first major action in France was at Pozieres in the Somme valley.
The 9th Battalion attacked on the extreme right of the line and it was during this action that Emerald’s Private John Leak won, with the bayonet, the battalion’s only Victoria Cross, the Mooloolaba service heard.
The service, which featured a montage of songs from various conflicts, normally includes the appearance of a light horse on the beach.
SAD PASSING OF LIGHT HORSE JACK
But Anzac Day horse Jack passed away on April 13.
In a tribute put on the giant screens, the Mooloolaba Surf Life Saving Club said it was honoured to have Light Horse Jack play such an integral part of our Anzac Day service for the last nine years.
“Jack was a much-loved member of the service and an honorary member of the Mooloolaba Surf Life Saving Club.
“His owner and rider Trooper Rusty Perry would like our community to know of the sad passing of his horse Jack, 2nd Light Horse Regiment, Woombye Troop.
“Jack was taken in by Rusty sixteen years ago as a broken down racehorse and after many hours of love and care, Jack and Rusty became valued members of Woombye Light Horse.
“Rusty and his horse Jack have supported our Dawn Service on Mooloolaba Beach since the Centenary of Gallipoli in 2015.
“Rusty would like to thank our club members, veterans and community for your support over the years.
“As such, this year, we would like to dedicate the 2024 Anzac Day Service program to Jack.
Jack, with honour you served, and it was our honour to serve with you.”
COOLUM BEACH RESIDENTS GATHER
In Coolum Beach, resident Geoff Cantor said more than 500 people gathered “in the predawn light” to join in the dawn service there.
“For two hours we stood there, remembering what had happened in far off lands, or paying our respects to the fallen who never came home,” he said.
“For myself, I came to honour the memory of my mother’s cousin who died in Northern Greece, and who’s name I bear.
“I laid a flower at the memorial stone and said a quiet thank you.”
He said Australians were “blessed” to have this place of paradise on the Sunshine Coast and peace that the old diggers fought to protect.
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