Lest We Forget: Locals Lighting up Dawn along the Myall Coast Bulahdelah, Wootton, Nerong Myall Coast News Tea Gardens, Hawks Nest by News Of The Area - Modern Media - April 22, 2020 The Wedge Tail Eagle crest of the Royal Australian Air Force, on one of three concrete walls each representing a Service at a quiet ANZAC Park, Tea Gardens. At 6am on Saturday 25 April, in the still of dawn, thousands of locals have pledged to silently stand in front of their homes to light up the memory of all the Australians and New Zealanders who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au This quiet moment will be an opportunity to acknowledge the contribution and suffering of all those who have and continue to serve. While this special commemoration will be in lieu of local marches, public wreath laying and pub two-up, it will also help to continue to protect our communities from COVID-19. Local participation can be recorded and uploaded onto the Facebook public event: ANZAC Day 2020 – Light up the dawn, being hosted by the Returned Services League (RSL). A pledge to participate in the event is at https://rslqld.org/ANZACspirit (#ANZACspirit #lightupthedawn) Young people are being encouraged to read the ANZAC Ode from the fourth stanza of the poem, “For the Fallen” by the English poet and writer Laurence Binyon. The Ode has been used in ANZAC commemoration services since 1921: “They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them.” Children are also being encouraged to make wreaths and art about ANZAC to display in front of their homes and to share images of them online. On the day and on screen, the Australian War Memorial Service will be broadcast nationally from 5am. There will also be a 10am service broadcast from the Anzac Memorial in Sydney. Locals are also encouraged to take time to exercise and walk past the War Memorials at Tea Gardens, Stroud, and Bulahdelah. Bulahdelah War Memorial Hall is offering a pre-ANZAC Gardening Special. The person behind the idea, Jeff Carryer, told NOTA, “We are offering two hours of weeding and pruning at the War Memorial Hall and gardens, limited to one or two people at a time. Come along, either alone or with one close person, to volunteer safely in our gardens. Volunteers receive free coffee and cake from Robyns Café.” NOTA looks forward to receiving stories and images from local ANZAC commemorations. By Sandra MURRAY Planted on ANZAC Day in 2003, the Tea Gardens ANZAC pine tree is from the original ‘Lone Pine’ at Gallipoli. At the Battle of Lone Pine on 6 August 1915, the Australian troops suffered 3,500 casualties and won 7 Victoria Crosses. Myall Coast will light up for ANZACs at dawn. Photo by local, Carl Brunton (with permission). Bulahdelah War Memorial Hall and Gardens. The Hall was built in 1944 in tribute to the service of local young people in the Great War and World War Two. The ANZAC Centenary Memorial Gardens were added in 2014. Volunteer gardeners welcome.
