2018 ANZAC Day Ceremony at the Darwin Cenotaph during the Dawn Service, Wednesday, April 25, 2018.
Camera Icon2018 ANZAC Day Ceremony at the Darwin Cenotaph during the Dawn Service, Wednesday, April 25, 2018. Credit: News Corp Australia, Keri Megelus

Top End gathers for 2018 Anzac Day commemorations

WILL ZWAR and JUDITH AISTHORPENT News

Topics

FROM Darwin to Alice Springs, thousands of Territorians gathered before sunrise on Wednesday – 103 years after Australian troops landed at Gallipoli.

In Darwin, there was a buzz as people walked to the Cenotaph, with military tunes from the Australian Army Band adding to the aura.

As the drums died and the veterans arrived, the crowd was silent in memory of the fallen soldiers.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

Guest speaker and 1st Brigade commander Matthew Pearse AM spoke of all soldiers who now rest in graves across the world.

“For almost a century now Australians have gathered at dawn on the 25th of April to pay our respects to the service and sacrifice of those who have served our country,” he said.

“With the passage of years, the loss of family members has not faded, but mellowed from sharp pain to enduring sadness — that is the nature of grief and bereavement.”

One of his Comrades from the 1st Brigade Kris Gardner echoed the commanders thoughts, but for him the sadness is still immediate and real.

“I was there when we lost Cameron Baird BC, and it’s a pretty profound thing to turn around and see an entire task force ... come out and pay respects of someone of that calibre, so I think about him and I think about the forty other guys too that we lost in Afghanistan,” he said.

“For the guys overseas to be on active duty and actually doing the job they’re trained for, it’s an important thing, it’s a major thing in their lives, and to have an Anzac Day while you’re on operations, it brings it all home, it’s one of those things that you never forget.”

For past soldiers, much of Anzac Day is about reflection of their mates, who came with them to war and returned, and of those who were left behind.

A large crown attends the 2018 ANZAC Day Ceremony held at Darwin Cenotaph.
Camera IconA large crown attends the 2018 ANZAC Day Ceremony held at Darwin Cenotaph. Credit: News Corp Australia, Keri Megelus

Vietnam veteran John Anictomatis moved to Australia 63 years ago from Greece, and said it was “an honour to fight for your adopted country”.

“It’s always the build up to the day, you’re constantly thinking of the mates that are either lost or injured, and the ones that have returned, you are thinking of their welfare and if they are coping well on their return — it’s always an emotional time,” he said.

“The day is about catching up with friends that I’ve served with, catching up with the president of the RSL — I went to school with him, served with him in the forces, and work with him now at the RSL.”

RSL president Bob Shewring.
Camera IconRSL president Bob Shewring. Credit: News Corp Australia, Keri Megelus

Meanwhile, hundreds of Palmerston residents gathered in the city centre to pay their respects for past and present soldiers.

The 8/12 Royal Australian Artillery Regiment led the march with the 1st Combat Engineering Regiment, 8th Close Health Company and the Marine Rotational Force Darwin following behind.

Jim Wright attended and marched with his grandson Joseph Wright.

It was Joseph’s first time wearing his grandad’s miniature medals.

Mr Wright proudly wore his, his father’s and grandad’s medals at today’s service.

Dozens of dignitaries also presented books instead of laying wreaths.

They will be donated to schools to help educate the next generation about the Anzacs.

WHAT’S ON TODAY

DARWIN

5.50am Veterans march from Darwin RSL to the Darwin Cenotaph

6am Dawn service begins

7.30am Mass for the fallen, St Mary’s Star of the Sea War Memorial Cathedral

9am Parade commences on the Esplanade, finishes at the Civic Centre

PALMERSTON

4.30am Gunners breakfast at Palmerston Sports Club

6am Dawn service begins at Memorial Park

7am Breakfast at Palmerston Sports Club

8.30am Veterans march through the city

9.30am Service at memorial park

ADELAIDE RIVER

5.30am Dawn service begins at Adelaide River war cemetery

HUMPTY DOO

9am March begins at Taminmin College

9.15am Memorial service begins at the village green

KATHERINE

6am Dawn service begins at Cenotaph on O’Shea Tce

ALICE SPRINGS

6am Dawn service begins at Anzac Hill

7am Reunion breakfast

9.45am Anzac march begins in front of Alice Springs town council on Todd St

10.30am Service begins at Anzac Hill

11.30am Reunion at the Golf Club

2018 ANZAC Day Ceremony at the Darwin Cenotaph.
Camera Icon2018 ANZAC Day Ceremony at the Darwin Cenotaph. Credit: News Corp Australia, Keri Megelus

Originally published as Top End pays respect