- Thousands attend ANZAC Day events -
26.04.2003 18:42:44
Thousands gathered at ANZAC Day ceremonies across south-west Victoria
yesterday to show gratitude for the deeds of fallen soldiers and troops
who served their country.
Many towns recorded their largest ever ANZAC Day crowds and younger generations figured prominently among the masses.
RSL members spoke in glowing terms about the turnouts and guest speakers honoured the ANZAC spirit with unwavering pride.
Cyril Spencer, 83, and Les Smith, 81, were residents of Dartmoor when they enlised during World War II. Brian Horner, 79, also a WW II veteran, moved to Dartmoor about 40 years ago. The three veterans admire Gallipoli figure wood carvings at Dartmoor.
More than 700 people attended Warrnambool`s dawn service and hundreds later heard students Will Ezzy and Edwina Collins, on behalf of the city`s youth, express their gratitude to members of Australia`s armed forces who served in various wars.
In Terang, guest speaker Lochie Lee spoke of his trip to Gallipoli in 1990 and the sacrifice and devastation of south-west Victoria during World War I.
He urged the crowd of several hundred to never forget the ANZACs, who sacrificed years, their health and their lives to give Australia freedom.
Mortlake ex-serviceman Gordon MacKenzie addressed the Ellerslie service, telling the gathering the Anzac spirit continued to live on in Australians.
Mr MacKenzie also asked people to think of the men and women serving in Iraq and prayed they would return to Australia safely.
A strong crowd at Koroit heard veteran Graham Papworth who made the trip from Melbourne to be guest speaker.
Mr Papworth said mateship, compassion, courage and "damn good humour" epitomised the Australian spirit.
Warrant Officer Scott Brookes of the Fort Queenscliff training academy addressed about 400 people at Camperdown. Earlier in the day the town`s dawn service attracted 200 people.
Camperdown RSL sub-branch vice-president Ramon Murrihy said he was "tickled pink" by the turnout.
In Mortlake 49 marchers and onlookers heard Uniting Church minister Jeff Gray`s ANZAC Day message at the Soldiers Memorial Hall.
Caramut`s ceremony attracted 40 people, who heard a Warrnambool Legacy guest speaker express her thoughts on the "bright side of the dark war".
Port Fairy RSL secretary Ray Stokie said yesterday was the town`s best ANZAC Day in 40 years.
"We had between 60 and 70 at the dawn service and the picture theatre hall was packed for the 10 o`clock one," Mr Stokie said.
Dartmoor remembers ANZACs with avenue of carved figures.
In Dartmoor`s main street, a devastated mother stands wiping a tear from her eye after hearing news her brave son has been killed in battle.
The fact that she is made of wood doesn`t seem to matter -- people still stare at her in awe.
The spectacular wood carving is among nine created from Atlantic cedar pines planted in the town in 1918 to commemorate the men and women of Dartmoor who fought for their country in World War I.
The life-like carvings were officially unveiled yesterday at the town`s ANZAC Day service.
Created by Melbourne chainsaw sculptor Kevin Gilders, they depict scenes from the landing at Gallipoli and include a digger about to leap from the trenches and a sombre war grave with an army helmet hanging from the cross.
Dartmoor and District Progress Association president Wendy Dowling said the community was determined to ensure the spirit of the ANZACs did not wither when the life span of the pine trees ended.
"Limbs were starting to fall off them -- they`d reached their life expectancy. We thought the carvings would help keep the memory of the ANZACs alive," she said.
The $50,000 project was already proving a popular tourist attraction.
Dartmoor has only two World War II veterans left.
Les Smith, 81, and Cyril Spencer, 83, said they felt emotional on seeing the wooden structures completed.
One of the statues has been carved out of the tree planted in memory of Mr Smith`s uncle, Sydney, who was killed at Gallipoli aged 26.
Mr Smith was sent off to help load ``biscuit bomber`` supply planes for troops in New Guinea after he enlisted in 1942.
His service was cut short in 1945 after he developed a skin condition on his legs from the oppressive heat.
He said that on his return he struggled to sleep on nights when there was a full moon.
"Moonlight was when they (the enemy) would do their raids," he said.
"I remember one time a line of bombs came right up to our tent. I honestly thought we`d be hit."
Mr Spencer spent most of his time overseas working as a mechanic in Borneo.
He said that when he signed up he was "young and silly".
He remembers the smell of stinking mud, sweat and the demoralised Japanese prisoners of war.
"You weren`t allowed to talk to them and every time you`d walk past the Japs they`d keep bowing at you," he said.
"I suppose it was better to have them bowing at us instead of us being frightened by them.
"I think they were treated a lot better than the way we felt about them but that was just the Aussie way."
Mr Spencer said four of his schoolmates were killed while serving in Timor and he was humbled to be one of the only remaining diggers in Dartmoor.
"To think there were 40 of us and now there are only two. It makes me feel tired and old," he chuckled.
acknowledge:
by The Standard
http://the.standard.net.au
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