- Strong crowds for ANZAC Day services in Wauchope -
30.04.2003 20:10:14
Strong crowds attended the 2003 ANZAC Day services in Wauchope last Friday.
Organisers of the event were ecstatic with the response from the public with better than expected crowds attending the dawn service and the morning service.
There were over 100 marchers for the dawn service – easily the best for many years while the crowds were also higher than expected for both services.
Rev Brian Muller gave the main address for the morning service and his speech was well-received by those attending.
The Smail family attended the Wauchope service clutching a photograph of their husband and father, Chief Petty Officer, Bruce Smail who is currently serving onboard HMAS Newcastle.
Sandra Smail said the family – including sons Jordan and Alexander and daughter Kara - wanted to participate in the service on behalf of their father.
Mrs Smail said this was the first time she had attended the ANZAC Day service in Wauchope.
"My dad Ern Geyer was marching in Wauchope for the first time so we decided to go over and participate with him," said Mrs Smail.
"Both my grandfathers went to war – in the first world war while my father was involved in Darwin and also overseas during the second world war.
"Bruce went to the Gulf War in 1991 as part of Operation Desert Storm and then he went back in 1999 before returning home.
"He then went to East Timor within about eight weeks of being home and he was on HMAS Melbourne – which was the first ship to complete two back to back war deployments since world war two.
"He sailed on April 7 and they were supposed to sail with HMAS Sydney and were supposed to go to Iraq but that now looks likely to be delayed for some time."
acknowledge:
by Hastings Gazette
http://wauchope.yourguide.com.au
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