It was an early start when we met in Melbourne at 4.30am to walk to the Shrine for the ANZAC Day 2009 Dawn Service. It's very rewarding to be at the Dawn Service and we recommend that you do get there next year or sometime in the near future. It was extremely pleasing to see many teenagers attend the memorial service, in respect of their ancestors' sacrifices in the wars that we unfortunately have experienced. The young people included children (and friends) of SAMVOA family. Well done to our youth!
The SAMVOA veterans joined in with the many thousands of people after the service for the traditional Gunfire Breakfast. We thank the Australian Defence Force for their well organised and timely cooking of the sausages, eggs and baked beans on a fresh roll. It did remind us of the many days of army rations that we have experienced. However we did agree that most of the meals we had on the border and in the operational area were not as tasty!
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The ANZAC Day march commenced at 9:00am. Our SAMVOA start time was at 12.30pm and that does illustrate just how large and how many people are at the function each year.
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The SAMVOA veterans contingent received continuous applause as they marched down St. Kilda Road to the Shrine. These photographs show the good pace and dressing that we maintained. And that's not bad for some of us who last served in our army/air force 23 years ago! The second photograph below is taken at the half way mark of the march, behind the SAMVOA group and it shows the Shrine in the distance.
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At the end of the parade, all of the pipe bands joined for a Massed Bands presentation. It was a magnificent sound. We gathered together to pose for our annual group photograph.
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After our March of Rememberance, we all gathered at a local hotel for a meal and fantastic fellowship conversation. For many of us this is an annual event and it was rewarding to catch up with what has happened since we last met there a year ago.
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We strongly urge all of the SAMVOA Veterans to join us in the two events that we have commited to, as SAMVOA, the South African Military Veterans Organisation of Australasia – ANZAC Day, April 25 and Remembrance Day, November 11.
Lest we forget
