Anzac Day in Sydney

I again spent Anzac day in Sydney. This has become a tradition for me. I accompany my sister to the Dawn Service at the Cenotaph in Martin Place. We need to catch one of the special trains that are provided. It means leaving her home about 3am. As usual the service was packed. I am always proud of the uniting of my country of birth and my country of choice and am proud to sing both anthems.

I have found this excerpt on Youtube. About 6 mins 35 secs the camera pans across the crowd with a clear view of my sister in red top.  I am only slightly in view behind her.
It begins just after the Governor has laid the first wreath. People are looking back at the large screen behind us. Only the very fortunate are able to sit.
This is followed by the most important part of the service - the reciting of the Ode, the sounding of the Last Post, a minute silence and the sounding of Reveille.


This year I was very pleased to discover the Sydney Maori Choir had been invited to sing as well as the Sydney Male Choir who have sung continuously at this service since 1930.
The Maori Choir sang Tama Ngakau Marie

Tama ngākau mārie Tama a te Atua Tēnei tonu mātou Arohaina mai Murua rā ngā hara Wetekina mai Ēnei here kino Wakararu nei. Takahia ki raro Tau e kino ai Kei pā kaha tonu Ko nga mahi hē. Hōmai he aroha Mōu i mate nei Tēnei ra e Ihu Tākina e koe Tēnei arahina A tutuki noa Puta i te pōuri Whiwhi hari nui.

Son of peace Son of God here we are always. Show us compassion. Wipe away our sins, and unshackle these evil ties that are so troublesome. Trample down things evil to you lest they gather strength, all evil deeds. Grant that we may have love for You who died May this be so Jesus, that you lead us. This is where we wish to be led to a good end, overcoming darkness and attaining paradise.

This was the last time we will see the Hon Professor Marie Bashir as Governor of NSW at the Dawn service and later leading the march through the city streets.

She has been a marvellous Governor since 2001. The first woman in that role and I note she is patron of the Gay and Lesbian Counselling Service.

As in the past we returned home to watch on TV the March through the city streets which takes about 3 hours. This was followed by the Dawn Service at Gallipoli which I attended in 2002. And following that, the Dawn Service at the Australian War Memorial in Villers Bretonneux, France.  I have already booked to be at that service in 2015.  I have visited the Memorial twice in 2002 and 2007 and my uncle who died on the Somme in 2016 is buried about 25 km away.