Anzac Day 2019: Hundreds descend on Pinegrove Memorial Park for moving dawn service
Hundreds of observers have descended on Pinegrove Memorial Park in Minchinbury to pay their respects at this year’s Anzac Day dawn service.
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Hundreds of veterans, descendants and observers gathered at Pinegrove Memorial Park in Minchinbury for the 2019 Anzac Day dawn service this morning.
The service commemorated the 104th anniversary of the landing of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps at Gallipoli in Turkey in World War I.
GALLERY: Anzac Day 2019 dawn service commemorations at Pinegrove Memorial Park
A gathering of several hundred people congregated at dawn to pay their respects to those who died serving their country in conflicts across the globe.
Young and old — from those in strollers to wheelchairs — braved the crisp Autumn morning to share in the commemorations.
The event began with a march through the front gates of the memorial park towards the war memorial, with a mounting of a catafalque party from the 202 Blacktown Army Cadet unit.
Leading the service was Rooty Hill RSL Sub Branch president Sean Plunkett, with federal Labor MP Ed Husic delivering the guest speaker address.
Sub Branch senior vice president Peter Hamrol led a prayer for the defence force, while secretary Alf Davey recited a commemoration to the fallen.
A wreath laying ceremony saw scores of observers take to the memorial to pay tribute.
The Ode and Last Post resounded across the park grounds before the congregation observed a minute’s silence.
The service concluded with the sounding of the Reveille, the hymn Abide with Me and the national anthem.
The service paused briefly as first aid officers attended to a man who had suffered a medical episode at the front of the crowd.
Mr Hamrol of the Rooty Hill RSL Sub Branch told the Advocate the Anzac spirit was alive and well in Minchinbury this morning.
“Every time I’ve been here, the spirit is always alive,” Mr Hamrol said.
“To me, today is more important than any other public holiday, like Australia Day.
“Anzac Day is our day. It’s a day of mourning but a day to rejoice that we’re all part of one community.”
A Vietnam veteran, Mr Hamrol has attended the Minchinbury service for two decades.
“Anzac Day is to commemorate the sacrifice our forebears went through. Anzac Day also combines the community.
“I’ve been coming here for the past 20 years and I’ve noticed it has grown year on year.
“I think it’s because the sub-branches go out to the schools, talk to the kids and the kids themselves urge their parents to come along as well.”
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