Young children gathered with parents and grandparents at dawn services across St George for the 102nd commemoration of the ANZAC landings.
Rockdale RSL sub-branch held its Anzac Day dawn service at the Rockdale Memorial Gardens.
About 150 people attended the service which was conducted by Father Brendan Quirk from the St Mary MacKillop’s Parish in Rockdale.
Fr Quirk told the gathering that the sacrifices of our soldiers should inspire us to make the world a better place.
“We who are gathered here think of those who set out for battlefields but did not return,” Fr Quirk said.
“We feel them still near us in spirit. We wish to be worthy of their sacrifice
“Let us therefore dedicate ourselves to the service of the ideal for which they died
“As the dawn is even now about to pierce the night so let their memory inspire us to work for the coming of the new light into the dark places of the world.”
Wreath layers included Bayside Council Administrator Greg Wright, Rockdale sub-branch president John Sutton, Rockdale Chamber of Commerce President Allan Wight, Fr Quirk and student representatives from Marist College Kogarah and St Joseph’s Rockdale.
The traditional Anzac Day march and commemorations hosted by Kogarah RSL Club continued this year despite the club being closed for redevelopment.
Those wanting to pay their respects gathered at the rear of the club before joining the march at 7.15am down to a cenotaph in Kogarah Park on Jubilee Avenue.
After the service the gathering of about 200 people were invited to Beverley Park Golf Club for a complimentary breakfast and refreshments, before the traditional two-up.
