ABOUT 100 King Islanders gathered in the dark at the Cenotaph in Currie for this year’s AnzacDawn Service.
They spoke in whispers and then stood sombrely in silence to honour the generations from the past to the present who selflessly served the country. The first rays of light began colouring the horizon and the momentary strokes illuminated King Island RSL Subbranch president Tom Shaw as he spoke of the defining moments and commonalities between each generational Australian war or conflict and what underpins the spirit of Anzac.
Anzac Day 2023 marked 50 years since Australia’s involvement In Vietnam. King Island RSL Subbranch vice president and Vietnam veteran Gary Barker spoke of the contentious issues that surrounded Australia’s involvement and the refusal to acknowledge returning soldiers’ Vietnam service, the overall lack of support including within the RSL.
Until 2021 only one King Island Vietnam veteran was recognised, Ian Lynch. President Tom Shaw recalled the names of the 35 King Islanders who served in Vietnam at the Dawn Service. Their names are now remembered on the Honour Board roll in the RSL Club rooms. Numbers were noticeably lower this year, but still following tradition, people lined Main Street and gathered at the Cenotaph for the march and Main Service.
In bright sunshine members of service organisations, the community and King Island District students (who broke school holidays to attend) marched behind the Honour and service organisation flags to the town hall and cenotaph to reflect on the legacy of those who have served the nation, their values and the challenges.
This year’s guest was Sergeant Ryan Cooke, an ADF veteran with operational service. His grandparents Bob and Hazel were King Island soldier settlers, his father and mother are Cr Ira and Rosemary Cooke, nephew of Corralyn and Gahey.
The family arrived on King Island around 1958 and settled on Contention Road, now called Lancaster Road.