Dawn sheds light on Anzacs

by Jason Della

April 28, 2008

DAWN. A time most would rather be sleeping while the 10 degree morning warms with the rising sun, but come Anzac Day the people of Perth are out in record numbers.

More than 30,000 people gather at Kings Park for the service, the biggest turnout on Australian shores. Among them is WA governor Ken Michael, acting premier Eric Ripper and federal deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop.

“Gallipoli wasn’t just an act of bravery by men at war, it set standards that would be respected for generations to come,” Australian Defence Force commodore Richard Shalders says after the traditional minute silence.

He speaks of the inspiration Anzac Day continues to inspire, saying it’s a day to remember “all those who fell not only in Gallipoli but in all wars.”

Parking illegally is the accepted norm at the event, as the crowds pour in to join the dignitaries and veterans of various conflicts.

Sadly, there are no longer any survivors of Gallipoli. However, their memory continues to live in the minds of many, and not all have relatives who have served in the military.

Bradley Pope, an 18 year-old apprentice, attends with his family and girlfriend Casey Moar. Neither had direct relatives in any Anzac battle, attending simply out of reverence.

Anzac Day is an important date where, regardless of your stance on war, individuals have an opportunity to pay their respects, they say.

“I hate war and I am against the stupid idea that we can force our way upon others, but I think it is important to support those who have served and died,” says Ms Moar, a 16 year-old receptionist.

Mr Pope agrees.

“I think we should have stayed out [of the Middle East conflict],” he says. “It’s not in our interest.

“We are involved out of an obligation to help America, so that they will help us.”

Showing her support not of the war, but of her mother who is currently somewhere in Afghanistan, Gillann’e Nichole, a 23 year-old nurse, braves the cold of the early morning.

“Anzac means regular people taking up the call of duty for the sake of others,” says the expatriate Zimbabwean who moved to Australia with her mother 20 years ago. “It means taking on the Anzac spirit just like so many men and women have done before.

“I think it is very important to remember the Anzacs, they are an important part of the history of Australia and our culture.”

Camaraderie from the younger generations is evident at the parade, where many proudly represent their fallen forebears to the applause of the gathered crowds.

Jason Glover, 15, marches in his third consecutive parade this year, for his “Great-great-grand uncle” Alec McGlew, an infantry man who fell in 1914 at Belgium during WWI.

In a statement that gets tongues wagging at the Perth ceremony, the NSW RSL requests that actual veterans be given “pride of place” during Anzac Day marches, effectively relegating representative family members to the back.

“I think it is appalling to attempt to stop relatives from marching with their grandfathers or whatever,” says Sarah Spini (23) who, alongside fellow nurse Michele Dunphy (25) have their hands cupped around warming coffee mugs.

They both agree the dawn tradition is very important, as it’s a communal event which draws together peoples of all nationalities and religions for a common cause.

“Today is more about remembrance rather then actually glorifying war,” Ms Dunphy says.