ANZAC Day at Tanunda went well.
Given that Monday was a public holiday during school holidays, we had an enormous turn-up at both the Dawn Service and the late morning Service after our march from the Tanunda Post Office to the Soldiers' Memorial Hall.
The highlight of the Dawn Service was perhaps an address delivered by a senior school student (image at left) from the local Faith Lutheran College. Given the age of the young man, his presentation was flawless, the content emotive and inspiring, and he didn't appear to be the slightest nervous.
After the Dawn Service, we held a Gunfire Breakfast that many people attended. Our bar volunteers served beer including large amounts of Coopers stout, a beverage that doesn't usually sell well during the rest of the year.
Small amounts of Beenleigh rum made its way into coffee, a tradition on this special day.
The Gunfire Breakfast was also attended by a contingent of RAAF serving members who had participated as a catafalque party (you can see several in the image above) or supported them.
Here they are outside our Hut. Those with weapons are obviously part of the catafalque party.
We appreciate and thank them for their service and hope that they will never be called upon to sacrifice their lives for their fellow Australians as many others have throughout the short history of our country.
We are so fortunate to live in a relatively free democracy with a decent standard of living and sound governance.
However, as the motto of the RSL states, "The Price of Freedom is Eternal Vigilance" which includes having a combat-ready defence force if we need it.
