Elanora’s Dorset Place, a makeshift venue to Anzac Day commemorations

As the sun peeks over the horizon this Saturday, the residents of a Gold Coast street will be peeking out their doors. Here’s how they are celebrating Anzac Day — and honouring our diggers.

AS the sun peeks over the horizon this coming Saturday, the residents of a Gold Coast street will be peeking out their doors.

Candles in hand and paper poppies on the ground, Dorset Place in Elanora will become a makeshift venue to Anzac Day commemorations.

Almost all residents have pledged to be at the end of their driveways for the Anzac Day dawn.

Relief teacher Tara Burke has been the driving force behind the street’s quiet yet emotional way to honour those who lost their lives in conflict.

“Just not being able to commemorate Anzac dawn at Elephant Rock was a pretty big move and I find it very emotional,” she said.

“I have extended family members who I would normally commemorate for.”

Tara Burke (front) is organising her neighbours to have a dawn driveway service at her street for Anzac Day. Picture: Jerad Williams

Anzac Day services were cancelled this year for the first time since 1916 because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic ban on mass gatherings.

Instead, a national service will be broadcast across the nation from the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

Currumbin RSL, which annually holds the city’s largest service at Elephant Rock, will broadcast online a prerecorded ceremony. The traditional honour roll, noting veterans who have died in the past year, will be read out.

With the coronavirus pandemic shutting down group gatherings, Ms Burke decided she would do something rather than skip the service this year.

So instead she has organised her cul-de-sac – of seven homes – to meet at the end of their driveways for a makeshift dawn service.

“I have been making paper poppies which we are going to put on the driveway,” she said.

They will all sit in their driveways at dawn and commemorate. She is making poppies to help commemorate. Picture: Jerad Williams

Ms Burke said the poppy idea was inspired by seeing Elephant Rock covered in the flowers each year.

She said the rise in their street and driveway reminded her of the popular dawn service spot.

As well as the traditional minute’s silence, Ms Burke and her neighbours will be bringing their barbecues to the end of their driveways to have a barbecue breakfast.

“We may even play the game two up like you did in primary school by putting your hands on your head for heads and bottom for tails,” she said.

Ms Burke also hopes the service will be a break from the “intensity” created by the coronavirus pandemic.

She said her street had been hit hard – as a relief teacher she was unlikely to get work during the next term, some were working in healthcare and others were working from home.

She said the street was also banding together to help an elderly couple in the cul-de-sac as well.

“I just really wanted to do something,” Ms Burke said.

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Tara Burke and Sarah James from Dorset Place. Picture: Jerad Williams

The mum-of-two teenagers urged other streets to follow their lead and create their own driveway service to commemorate the Anzacs.

The Returned Servicemen’s League of Queensland is also encouraging people to commemorate in their driveways, on their balconies or in their living rooms.

From 6am on Anzac Day they will be streaming a short service on their website. Some radio stations will also broadcast the service.

They have been backed by Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate who says he will join the commemorations with a candle and wreath which he will lay outside his house to commemorate the sacrifices of Australia’s servicemen and women.

“I will stand at the end of my driveway, repeat the oath and say lest we forget,” he said.

“COVID-19 cannot stop the Anzac spirit and I encourage everyone to do the same, it will be nice to see everyone doing this.

“It is the Australia way – when adversity strikes, we stand together.”