Anzac Day 2023: How Territorians commemorated Australia’s history
The Territory’s Anzac Day parades proved a big hit, with thousands commemorating lives lost at war. See all the photos here.
Northern Territory
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Energy levels kicked up as Darwin’s Anzac Day parade made its way through Knuckey St.
The street was lined with Territorians young and old, many holding Australian flags excitedly in the air.
The parade’s band was met with a chorus of cheers and applause throughout the march, and accented occasionally by the roaring engines of aircraft flying overhead.
Navy training officer Jo Mercia has served for 18 years and said Anzac Day wasn’t just about commemorating past and present service, but also a chance to celebrate women in the Defence Force.
“It’s just about being able to march for them and their service and everybody who has come before me, like my aunty who was in the Navy,” she said.
“She walked so I could run as a woman in the Navy.
“It’s just about being able to do that and representing just so people can see, other little girls can go, ‘oh, I could do that’.”
Her kids, Xavier and Mackenzie, said they were incredibly proud of their mum and her work.
Siblings Jett and Mia were honouring their great, great grandfather who died in service.
Their father, who stood by them during the parade, also served in the Air Force previously.
Friend Ryan said his father had also served alongside the family.
Andrew English watched his comrades in the 108th Anzac Day parade in Darwin with pride.
Mr English – who said his role in the Army was to “make sure everyone had their stuff and ready to get out the door” – said he’d been commemorating Anzac Day for the past 20 years.
“I always look forward to this day,” he said.
“It’s good to know what our boys all fought for back in the day, and obviously fight for our freedom to make sure that we’re living the life we live now.”
Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said Anzac Day was an important opportunity to remember 60,000 Defence members who fought for Australia.
“Anzac Day is a day where we remember all Australians, and New Zealanders, who have served and continue to serve in military operations,” she said.
“Lest we forget.”
Veterans Affairs Minister Paul Kirby said he encouraged Territorians to take time to reflect on Australia’s military history.
“With such a strong defence and military connection, Anzac Day will always be an important day for Territorians to reflect on those who paid the ultimate sacrifice,” he said.
Anzac Day 2023: WWII veteran reflects on Top End service
As dawn’s first light broke over Darwin, revealing thousands paying their respects to our Anzacs, WWII veteran Richard Pethybridge sat surrounded by family.
An entirely different picture to that of the 100-year-old’s previous time in the Top End, from 1941-44.
But in some ways, how Mr Pethybridge came to be in Darwin for the 108th Anzac Day commemorations mirrored his service in WWII.
“When we were young blokes, when we joined the Army during the war, we were all underage, we couldn’t be sent overseas,” the Bundaberg-based centenarian said.
“They asked for volunteers to come up here, so I volunteered as a cook.”
He served in the Top End from 1941-1944, and was stationed in the Territory during the Bombing of Darwin in 1942.
It was a casual plan with his wife of 59 years that this year had him surrounded by family at the Dawn Service.
“I wasn’t expecting it, I just said to the wife, ‘we’ll go to Darwin,’, so here we are,” he said.
The 108th commemoration of Anzac Day in Darwin was accented by the birdsong, the smell of the nearby ocean, and the slightly humid morning air.
It is the only Dawn Service in an Australian capital city to include a formal wreath ceremony in its proceedings.
Administrator of the NT Hugh Heggie PSM, British High Commissioner to Australia Vicki Treadell, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, Solomon MP Luke Gosling, and members of the NT government were among those who came forward to lay wreaths at the Cenotaph.
Australian Air Force Cadets Eloise Harvey and Jonah Kenning joined hundreds of attendees to lay their own wreaths and poppies at the Cenotaph after the dawn service concluded.
The two recruits donned medals from members of their family who served in the Defence Force.
“I have my great, great grandfather’s medals with me today,” Elouise said with pride.
“I’m just here to represent him.”
“My great grandfather served in the navy and was in Japan,” Jonah said.
He also wore a set of polished medals on his uniform.
The Thompson family stood with pride beside the Cenotaph after the morning’s proceedings.
Father Michael Thompson said Anzac Day was an opportunity to share his service with his boys and remember their great, great grandfather who served in WWI and WWII.
He also served as a civil engineer in the Army for 12 years.
Sons Liam and Oscar were thrilled to acknowledge Anzac Day to join Territorians at the Cenotaph each year after their recent move from Brisbane.
“It’s just a really nice way to commemorate the people who tried to keep Australia from being like some other place where there’s no democracy, there’s just fighting,” Liam said.
Caroline, Michael’s wife and Liam and Oscar’s mother, was among the Australian Military Wives Choir during the dawn service.
She said joining the group was the chance to connect and bond with women who “understand what the military lifestyle is like”.
“We get to perform at ceremonies like this morning, we sang with the Darwin Chorale, so that’s pretty special,” Mrs Thompson said.
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