The pre-dawn Anzac Day service in Johnstone Park, Geelong, had an atmosphere that could be virtually touched — people walking from all directions in the dark in silence, with a common purpose, to the dome. Children of all ages crouched and made their way through the crowd and sat in a circle, ever so attentive to the speeches, prayers, poems and the military presence. It was a time to reflect and remind ourselves, regardless of age, the sacrifices others have made which make this country so dynamic, yet fragile like any other country.
It is my hope that with the growing number of people attending Anzac ceremonies and services that this fragility is more widely understood and therefore actively protected in all fields, such as governance, the environment and people’s treatment of each other.
Seeing the tears — grief that is very old but still so very raw — is not the legacy we wish for any generation. The quiet dignity of the service, ably facilitated by the president of the Belmont RSL, Hayden Shell, was a fitting tribute to the men and women who have died in war.
Lest we forget.