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Large crowds gather at Narromine on ANZAC Day By SHARON BONTHUYS LARGE crowds gathered for the ANZAC Day commemorations in Narromine on April 25, delighting the Narromine sub-branch of the Returned and Services League (RSL). Each event planned by the RSL was well attended across the day, from the dawn service to the traditional breakfast, the Commonwealth War Graves Service, and the 11am service at the cenotaph. Even a last minute commemoration held at a third, lesser known memorial site attracted attendees. The traditional dawn service commenced at 5.45am with RSL president David Taylor laying a wreath at the cenotaph. In the quiet stillness of the early morning, the mood among the crowd was solemn but respectful as the speakers delivered their speeches and prayers. It was a particularly poignant moment when bugler Steven Cummins delivered The Last Post and Reveille. Outgoing RSL secretary Ted Davies reminded those gath-
ered that ANZAC Day is not about celebrating, but rather remembering and commemorating the lives lost to war and those who served and lived through confl icts. Children came forward to lay wreaths before the crowd dispersed. Mr Taylor told the Narromine Star that ANZAC Day commemorations were growing more important in different ways. He was very pleased with the turnout this year given the event has been impacted by COVID restrictions during the pandemic. Maisy, 8, and Ruari Weir, 6, were just two of many young people to attend the dawn service with their family. Mum Sarah Weir told the Narromine Star the youngsters were attending to commemorate their grandfather’s wartime service. Lance corporal Jarred Holden, an aircraft technician from Sydney, attended the event with partner Erin Shailes as part of the Australian Defence Force’s ‘hometown soldier initiative’.
“It’s so good to see a lot of people here today,” he said. He thought the current Russia/ Ukraine confl ict was a real eye-opener for many people and may have spurred some to attend. Visiting his son Chris who is a teacher in Narromine, Garry Hooper reflected on his 26-years as a chaplain with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Mr Hooper served in Timor in 1999, undertook multiple tours to Iraq between 2004 and 2018, as well as Afghanistan. “As the speaker said, ANZAC Day is not a celebration. It’s a commemoration. Seeing what’s happening in Ukraine at the moment, the indiscriminate evil, it’s very sobering for everyone,” he said. After the dawn service, a large crowd flocked to the United Services Memorial Club (USMC) for the traditional ANZAC Day breakfast. The hearty breakfast was served by smiling volunteers including councillor Les Lambert. At 9.30am, a large crowd also attended the service held
Children lay the wreaths at the service. at the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery on Tomingley Road. A fly-pass by local pilots announced the start of the event. Ted Davies led the wreath laying party from local schools into the cemetery where the young bearers placed their wreaths in front of the headstones of the fallen. David Taylor placed a wreath on the cross behind the war graves on behalf of the RSL. Following the war graves service, Mr Taylor and Mr Davies adjourned to a third memorial site outside the council chambers on Dandaloo Street. Charlie Burrowes, who served in the Vietnam confl ict between 1966 to 1969, laid a wreath at this site. (Read more in a separate article).
At 11am a very large crowd watched the traditional march from the USMC to the cenotaph, and stayed for the service that followed. Mr Davies delivered an impassioned speech about the spirit of ANZACs and fi nding that spirit within you. A copy of his speech has been reprinted with permission. Many people, organisations and schools took the opportunity to lay wreaths at the service. Like the early morning service, the 11am commemoration was pervaded by a sad but calm mood as those gathered reflected on past losses and current confl icts. Lest We Forget.
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