HILLS residents converged on cenotaphs and memorials from Gembrook to Emerald on Friday to pay their respects on one of the most important days on the Australian calendar.
Cockatoo locals braved the freezing cold at dawn as local pastor Owen Prout and Cardinia Shire councillor Tania Baxter took to the microphone before a traditional gunfire breakfast in the RSL clubrooms.
Thousands turned out at Emerald’s dawn and morning services, and converged on the RSL in droves in the morning march. Emerald RSL president Peter Maloney recited an emotional poem by Butch Daly about a soldier’s journey into the post traumatic stress disorder minefield; before local musician Mark Fenby sang a spine-tingling rendition of the Birds of Tokyo anthem ‘Lanters’ which featured the fitting lyrics ‘In darkness I leave, for a place I’ve never seen, it’s been calling out to me – that is where I should be’.
RUSSELL BENNETT captured just some of the emotion-charged scenes on Anzac Day.
