Heathcote reflects at dawn

A large crowd gathered at the Lone Pine Memorial on Camp Hill to pay their respects at the 108^th Anzac Dawn Service in Heathcote.

Secretary of the Heathcote RSL Sub-Branch, Michael Carroll, welcomed attendees to the service after they climbed the path to the memorial by torchlight.

“Before dawn on 25 April 1915, the first soldiers of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landed on the shores of the Gallipoli Peninsula.

“The men were part of a British and French led invasion.

“Some 2000 Australians were killed or wounded on that day.

“At Anzac Cove, the Australians were the first to land, followed later in the day by the New Zealanders.

“Anzac Day has become one of the most important dates on the Australian calendar since 1916.

“At first, it gave people a chance to honour the original Anzacs, the Australians and New Zealanders who fought on Gallipoli.

“Since then it has become a day for all who served in the Great War, the Second World War, and all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations that have followed.

“Anzac Day has become an occasion to honour all who have worn our country’s uniform in service.”

Mr Carroll then called on Heathcote RSL Sub-Branch President Miles Humphrey to lay a wreath.

The traditional Anzac Requiem followed before the Last Post, a minute of silence for reflection and Reveille.

Mr Humphrey thanked everyone for attending and invited them to share in the traditional Gunfire Breakfast at the RSL.

“I was really pleased to see so many people attend this morning,” he said.

“There were lots of new faces too, which was wonderful to see.”