Anzac Day marked by commemorations around the country
An ex-serviceman marches in the Sydney parade, attended by thousands. Photo: AAP
Hundreds of thousands of people have paid their respects to past and present members of Australia’s military forces for Anzac Day 2019.
While suspected terror plots forced an evacuation at Anzac Cove in Gallipoli – a dawn service attended by thousands of Australians and New Zealanders – on home soil services were still mostly well attended.
In Sydney, close to 13,000 people took part in the city’s march on Elizabeth Street from Martin Place to Hyde Park.
Crowds in the thousands showed their appreciation along the sidelines, waving Australian flags and bearing ‘thank you’ signs.
Among the marchers was 95-year-old Walter Tuchin, one of the last surviving members of the 24 Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force.
Mr Tuchin was not quite 18 years old when he signed up for service in World War II.
Thousands gathered at Hyde Park in Sydney for the morning Anzac Day address. Photo: AAP
At the Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park, RSL NSW president James Brown addressed the masses.
“On this day we remember the sacrifice of such men and women for an ideal, for our way of life, for our values and for our country that is fair, free and without fear,” Mr Brown said.
In Melbourne, dawn service attendance was down by about 10,000, which organisers put down to the day’s timing in between Easter public holidays and the school term returning.
The city’s morning march was led by World War II veteran Sam Krycer.
The 100-year-old former leading aircraftman said it was a humbling experience to see so many young participants in the march.
“It gets a bit emotional for me today. I didn’t expect all of that,” Mr Krycer said.
“I also remember all the thousands of those who didn’t make it back home.”
A soldier next to the eternal flame at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance. Photo: Getty
About 65,000 people took part in the march from Federation Square to the Shrine of Remembrance.
Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove delivered his final Anzac Day address at Canberra’s Australian War Memorial, spreading a message to the country’s ex and current servicepeople: you matter.
“It is by our presence to say to the shades of those countless men and women who did not come home, or who made it back but who have now passed, and to say to their modern representatives, the ones around the nation who today march behind their banners:
“You matter. What you did matters. You are in our hearts. Let it be always thus.”
Poppies are pinned along the walls of the Australian War Memorial. Photo: Getty
The former defence force chief said veterans marched to honour “those who have faded from our ranks”.
“Gone but not forgotten, while there’s a breath in any of us,” he said.
“When we march we like to look at those gathered to watch and wonder, young and old, family, friends and strangers, and to catch their gaze and convey our silent message: We did it for our nation, for what Australia stands for. We did it for you.’
“Let it be always thus.”
-with AAP
