{"id":96110,"date":"2024-04-25T10:03:07","date_gmt":"2024-04-25T00:03:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/bendigotimes\/?p=96110"},"modified":"2024-04-25T11:20:45","modified_gmt":"2024-04-25T01:20:45","slug":"massive-turnout-for-city-anzac-day-dawn-service","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/bendigotimes\/news\/massive-turnout-for-city-anzac-day-dawn-service\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Massive\u2019 turnout for city Anzac Day Dawn Service"},"content":{"rendered":"

THE cold did not stop Bendigo people turning out in droves to mark Anzac Day at the traditional Dawn Service at the Bendigo Military Museum this morning.<\/p>\n

Bendigo District RSL Sub-branch president Glenn Ludeman, who spoke at the service, described the crowd as \u201cmassive\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was an outstanding turnout,\u201d Mr Ludeman said. \u201cThere were so many veterans I\u2019ve never met before.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was nice to see some faces we haven\u2019t seen for a long time, and some that we haven\u2019t seen before.\u201d<\/p>\n

While an accurate attendance figure was difficult to estimate, Mr Ludeman said the crowd stretched well back from the museum forecourt towards the nearby Alexandra Fountain.<\/p>\n

The Dawn Service in the city coincided with a similar event at Eaglehawk, with the official Morning Service at each location following later this morning. The city march took place after the Morning Service.<\/p>\n

Speaker at the Bendigo service was former peacekeeper and Anzac Day ambassador Carl Chirgwin, in keeping with the statewide theme this year of \u2018Peacekeepers, Peacemakers and Peacebuilders\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe saw a lot of members who have served as peacekeepers,\u201d Mr Ludeman said.<\/p>\n

He said such big attendances at Anzac Day services and events truly made veterans feel appreciated.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnzac Day honours those who have served, those who are still serving, and the 103,021 who made the supreme sacrifice in service.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr Ludeman made special mention of the families of service men and women, who even now \u201csuffer in silence\u201d as they constantly await news of the welfare of their loved ones.<\/p>\n

While the major events were in the city and at Eaglehawk, commemorations and other Anzac Day activities have been taking place today throughout the region including in Huntly, Kangaroo Flat and more.<\/p>\n

And once the flag goes back to full mast at midday after the completion of commemorative activities, veterans, their families and others will go on to continue their celebrations in their own ways.<\/p>\n

In the case of the RSL sub-branch, it\u2019s a free roast lunch for veterans at the headquarters in Havilah Road, Long Gully.<\/p>\n