This Anzac Day is a signficant milestone for Gymea's John Harris.
John, 83, has played the Last Post on Anzac Day for the past 70 years. He first played on Anzac Day, 1948 as a 14-year-old student at Marist Brothers, Randwick.
And this will be the 55th year he has played the Last Post at the Anzac Day mass at St Catherine Laboure' Catholic Church, Gymea.
“I learnt to play the trumpet in my teens at the Conservatorium of Music,” John said.
“Then I started playing the Last Post and school and kept on playing. When we moved to Gymea I was asked to play the Last Post at St Catherine’s on Anzac Day and except for a couple of breaks, I’ve done so for the past 55 years.”
After undergoing throat surgery recently it looked as though he may not have been able to play the Last Post on his 70th anniversary. He had a stand-in ready but he has now recovered enough to give it a try.
John said many family members including his sons and grandchildren will be attending the church to hear him play the Last Post on his significant Anzac milestone.
And his wife, Rona, will be there to video his performance.
“It’s always a very special Anzac mass and this year will be even more special,” she said.
