THE 110th Anzac Day commemoration of the landing at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915 began at dawn at the Cenotaph in Currie.
Each year the Australian Defence Force are represented and those attending have links to King Island.
Last year, Ryan Cooke represented the Army and in July last year, the Air Force participated in the Remembrance ceremony for the 1943 bomber crash on the island and the flight officers buried here.
This year, a RAN contingent from HMAS Cerberus in Victoria was led by Warrant Officer David George, a King Islander. It was noted during the service that these veterans individually met their costs to attend the King Island commemorations.
King Islander Bernard George, a veteran who served with the Army in Afghanistan and Iraq, was the first guest speaker. Helen Conley, the second speaker, reflected on a World War II King Island soldier and detailed his battles. Blue – the larrikin, the Wild Colonel Boy – was killed in action and reburied in the Lae War cemetery.
Ms Conley pointed to service notations and misdemeanours but reminded those present that “this man gave his life for his country and never feigned from his duty as an infantry soldier and that the names of the Cenotaph are more than names in service notations and records”.
Retired RAN chaplain Reverend John Cox led the prayer. RSL Sub-Branch president Gary Barker recognised the 25th anniversary of the Australian-led deployment of the International Force for East Timor involving 5000 personnel to the 22-nation force.
Mr Barker acknowledged the work of past RSL sub-branch president Thomas Shaw. Tom and Mel’s work which revitalised the RSL sub-branch was further recognised at the RSL Club rooms after the dawn service when a ‘warm drink’ was served.
The Sailors Bar or ‘Tom’s Bar’ was officially opened by the Navy. This year the Anzac Day march commenced in Meech Street and followed the drummers, Tim Leo and Daniel Baer, to the Cenotaph. The change was well received and – as with the Dawn Service, despite the chill – the main service at 10.30am was well attended.
Rather than diminishing, the numbers attending the memorial services continue to increase attracting island visitors as well as multigeneration support. The King Island District High School students carried the Service, allied Services and Honour flags and were assisted by the RAN personnel.
This year more than 30 wreaths were laid at the Cenotaph. The president of the King Island District High School students representative council, Rhys Esguerra, was the Master of Ceremony and following tradition, the hymn Abide with Me was prerecorded by Kelly Lancaster as she was off the island.
Janet Hamilton read her father Private Reg Groom’s comfort parcel letter he wrote to Jack Marshall while waiting in Darwin to be deployed to war. He was captured in Timor on February 22, 1942, and spent the rest of the conflict as a prisoner of war, before being repatriated to Japan in September 19, 1945 and discharged in December.
Janet shared what it was like growing up in a Veteran’s family on the island. While her father didn’t discuss life as a POW, he attended every POW reunion, and religiously supported the RSL.
Janet has now read her father’s service records and understands more about his experiences. The RAN members enjoyed their time on King Island, have now joined the sub-branch and are eager to return with their mates.
