Dawn service remembers sacrifices

MANY people were awake early Tuesday morning as they gathered to remember the sacrifices made by our military personnel.

The Anzac Day Dawn Service commenced at 6am at the Ballarat Cenotaph and even the chilly weather couldn’t stop crowds.

The service began with the mounting of the catafalque party made up of members of the 8th/7th Battalion, Royal Victoria Regiment, led by Corporal Daniel Godson and drummed by Peter Gunn.

President of the Ballarat RSL, Alan Douglass, then laid a wreath to remember the sacrifices of the nation’s military service men and women.

Mr Douglass was called to service in 1958 and was transferred to the 8th/7th Infantry Battalion where he was then promoted to Sergeant.

He eventually served as Company Sergeant Major of a rifle infantry company and an administration company before retiring after 30 years of service.

Brett MacDonald was the master of ceremony throughout the service.

“We’re assembled here this morning to again honour the memories of the people and the sacrifices they have made in service of our nation,” said Mr MacDonald.

“Our thoughts are also with those who are currently on active service.

“Anzac Day goes beyond the anniversary of the landing on Gallipoli in 1915, it’s the day on which we remember all Australians who served and died in war and on operational service.

“The spirit of Anzac, with its qualities of courage, mateship and sacrifice, continues to have meaning and relevance for our sense of national identity.”

Anglican Bishop of Ballarat, Garry Weatherall, then led a dawn service remembrance prayer.

“Today as we gather as people of many different faiths or of no faith, we come with a common purpose of honouring those who gave their lives in the service of our country,” he said.

The ritual segment of the service followed the prayer and included the reading of the ode, the Last Post, a minute’s silence and the National Anthem.

The service ended with the dismounting of the catafalque party.

“It’s important we keep having an Anzac Day service to keep the legacy up and to respect the sacrifices that our troops, nurses and animals went through,” said Mr Douglass.