Anzac Day 2015 - Braidwood Remembers
The community of Braidwood and districts certainly honoured the sacrifices and remembered well those who fought, and particularly those who died, in WW1.
For the Anzac Day commemoration services, 25 April 2015, as the cockatoos called and the dawn sky turned a brilliant pink, Anzac Day in Braidwood began with Dawn Service, attended by an estimated 650 people. Of note were the numerous children and their families attending for the first time as they have gained a deeper understanding and connection with the past through their research of the 88 fallen soldiers from Braidwood and surrounding districts who fell during WW1.
Familiar faces paused for a moment's silence; voices raised in song, led by the Cantors, and the bugle rang out in the quiet morning air. Afterwards the crowd were nourished as usual by the gunfire breakfast as the Services Club
The traditional March began at 10:45, led off by the Light-horse re-enactment contingent. Kapyong Company RMC Duntroon set a good pace for the Parade. Our veterans marched proudly in good numbers. This year the veterans were followed by the ANZAC Commemoration Contingent, created by the children of St Bede's and Braidwood Central Schools marching in honour of the 88 fallen local soldiers. Community service groups and children attending outlying schools made up the rest of this year's impressive parade.
It was a haunting and moving roll call for the soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice in WWI, as 88 children each responded on behalf of their fallen soldiers and placed a flag in the garden in their honour. With perfect timing an RAN MRH90 Taipan helicopter from HMAS Albatross flew overhead in the silence that followed the roll call.
The usual laying of wreaths, Ode, Last Post, minute's silence and Reveille were particularly poignant on this centenary anniversary of the landings at Gallipoli.
Moving to Ryrie Park for the continuation of the service and thoughtful speech by Flight Sergeant Luke Walker from HQ JOC. It became even more evident that crowd numbers were significantly up this year, with an estimated 2,200 people being in attendance. Formal ceremonies concluded as usual with the much anticipated, well deserved and enjoyed ice-creams for the children present. Thankfully the weather held throughout the March and morning ceremony.
Following a great lunch at the Services a Club, prepared and served by golf club volunteers, the special commemorative books honouring the 88 soldiers from Braidwood and districts were officially launched by Dr Peter Hendy, MP for Eden/ Monaro.
Two-up and a few quiet drinks saw the conclusion of a sincerely commemorative and special one hundredth ANZAC Day.