Anzac Day, Coffs Harbour: Thousands salute Veterans at march
While the poignant driveway gatherings still sparkled for some, Anzac Day was how it used to be in Coffs Harbour - as a massive crowd turned out to pay their respects. See the morning in pictures.
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The Coffs Harbour CBD was a canvas of thousands of faces and memories long lasting as the city paid homage in an Anzac Day ceremony as it used to be.
After being tethered by Covid in recent times, residents crammed around the Vernon Street cenotaph to say thank you to the local Veterans.
The crowd was so large that some took vantage in a multistorey carpark a full block away, craning for a view.
“We’ve been starved of full appreciation because of Covid,” Coffs Harbour RSL sub-branch president John Lloyd said.
“This is absolutely fantastic - I would say we’ve had over 3000 here.”
Guest speaker was Colin Watego OAM, who had a storied 43-year career in the Australian Defence Force.
In 2015, Bangalow-born Mr Watego conducted the inaugural Indigenous Ceremony at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli.
The appreciative crowd included local politicians Pat Conaghan (federal), Gurmesh Singh (state) and mayor Paul Amos - as well as a small armada of school children.
The stars of the show though were undoubtedly the Veterans who stood in parade on Vernon Street throughout the service.
The rain kept at bay and it was warm enough only for the young cadets in the catafalque party to be discreetly offered an occasional sip of water as they stood statue-like around the cenotaph.
“This is just great to see all the blokes receive recognition,” said Hugh Hegarty, a retired staff sergeant who saw time in Vietnam in 1972.
The significance of the event - where barely a mask could be seen - was noted by Mr Lloyd who MCed the main service.
“In 2020 we were deprived of our Anzac Day by the Covid-19,” he said.
“In 2021 we delivered to our Coffs Coast community a wonderful Anzac event in the Cex International Stadium. 2022 sees us back to our traditional format.”
As is the way, the crowd received a history lesson on the courage and barely imaginable loss of campaigns past.
“On this day 107 years ago, Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of an expedition to capture the Gallipoli peninsular, then part of the Ottoman Empire allied to Germany,” Mr Lloyd said.
“What had been planned as a bold stroke to knock Turkey out of the war quickly became a stalemate.
“Against this background, the Anzac legend grew to become the benchmark for standards of courage, mateship, humour, trust and determination.”
The costs of The Great War were staggering.
“From a population (Australia’s) of fewer than five million, 416,809 men enlisted, of whom more than 60,000 were killed and 156,000 wounded, gassed or taken prisoner,” Mr Lloyd said.
“A casualty rate of nearly 50 per cent.”
It was said that the Anzac spirit had permeated through to the modern day legends - those who volunteer for the community.
“Legacy, Vinnies, voluntary Surf Life Saving and hundreds more - visitors comment that we are a nation of volunteers,” Mr Lloyd said.
“We do it because we are Australians, the sons and daughters of the Anzacs with a toughness and resolute spirit to defeat invaders in any form, and to defend our lifestyle for generations to come.”
There was a reminder and a plea too for Coffs residents to embrace the newest Veterans - those who served in Afghanistan.
“In June it will be one year since the Australia Defence Forces returned. Please, bring them all under your spirit of Anzac,” Mr Lloyd said.
Large Anzac Day crowds were seen at ceremonies across the Coffs Coast, including Nambucca Heads, Macksville and Bowraville, where for the Mitchell family it is very much a tradition to honour those who have gone before.
In Sydney, thousands lined Elizabeth Street with the sound of applause rippling across the capital in the largest Anzac Day march in three years.
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