An estimated 7000 attended the Anzac Day dawn service at Miranda this morning, marking the 99th anniversary of the Gallipoli landing in a ceremony that acknowledged the contribution of Aboriginal Diggers and Australia’s close ties with New Zealand.
Rain did not stop veterans from marching or other people taking part, particularly the many school children whose numbers were up on previous years.
The focus of the dawn service was the newly relocated Miranda RSL war memorial in Seymour Shaw Park.
The Miranda Anzac Day dawn service is the biggest in the Sydney metropolitan area outside the CBD, says Miranda RSL Sub-branch president, Bruce Grimley.
The war memorial had been moved to accommodate the growing crowds that attend each year.
The role of Australian’s indigenous Diggers was acknowledge this year, particularly the 1000 Aboriginal volunteers at Gallipoli and the thousands of Aboriginal soldiers who fought in WWII.
‘‘Let us remember them along with all other service personnel who strived to ensure future generations would be free,’’ Mr Grimley said.
New Zealand was remembered for its partnership with Australia in the Anzac legend, with a stirring rendition of the New Zealand national anthem by April-Marie Neho.
The danger that the conflicts of the past could flare up again in the future was the theme of the commemoration address by Commander (retired) Ken Clements, who spoke of the Korean War.
‘‘It is 61 years since the end of that war and the situation there is not getting any better; it is getting worse,’’ he said.
WWII veteran George Rogers, 89, of Sylvania, said he was proud that his grandchildren had come to watch him march on Anzac Day.
‘‘I turn 90 next year and it is the 100th anniversary of Gallipoli, so they will have to turn up to watch me march,’’ he said.
Mr Rogers had a message for the increasing numbers of young people who were attending the dawn service every year.
‘‘I would tell them if possible to try to avoid war,’’ he said.
‘‘When you see what is going on overseas at the moment, particularly in the Ukraine, it worries me.’’
(Read more in the Leader on Tuesday).
Mr Grimley thanked people for attending, particularly students and the younger servicemen and women, and the great respect they had shown to the older veterans.
The relocated Miranda RSL Anzac memorial will be rededicated on the anniversary of VE Day on May 8.
An estimated 2000 people attended an earlier dawn service at Caringbah RSL Club.
Organisers said the numbers were up from the crowd last year.
The earlier starting time meant that people were able to avoid the rain which fell at the Miranda dawn service.
Marchers set off at 4.15am from Caringbah RSL to march to the war memorial at the corner of Kingsway and Port Hacking Road for the 4.30am commemorative service.
People were able to make it back to the club by 5am — just escaping the rain.
The club hosted a breakfast for about 260 veterans and their supporters.
Another breakfast was hosted for the Scouts and Girl Guides who took part in the march and service.
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