My First ANZAC Day Service.

My morning started with my alarm beeping loudly at 4am. I was going to my first ANZAC Day dawn service in my remote country town in Queensland Australia. I moved here a few years ago, it's a wonderful friendly town, with old buildings beautifully preserved. 

So I get up at 4am, which is hard for me as I am not really a morning person. Into the kitchen, a strong coffee and a piece of toast with butter and Vegemite. That should hold me for awhile. 

I freshen up washing my face and get some comfortable respectful clothing on. Then proceed to walk to the local RSL (Returned and Services League of Australia) building, which was only a few streets away form my home.

As a arrive, there seems to be at least 100 people already there. There was all ages, children with parents and grandparents. Most are wearing poppies and rosemary, symbols of remembrance of ANZAC day.

They were all surrounding the building outside, the Australian National Flag flying, wreath laying on the memorial, school children in their uniforms respectfully laying their wreaths of beautiful flowers also. 

Young cadets from the Australian Army march in their uniforms, standing alert with their rifles honouring the fallen soldiers. 

Speeches are made in a public ceremony that honours those who have died in battle. Including animals who served in battle. 

The whole crowd in the community joins in a two minute silence to pay respect to ones who served Australia. 

As the sun starts to rise, it sets a divine beautiful setting. The kookaburras sing their Aussie song, joining in to thank us for a wonderful country. 

You could see a few tears shed as people remember. A lot of the families in these rural remote towns have grandparents who had participated in battle. Most are gone now, just a few remain now, but very old. 

After the service, we all gather in the old wooden RSL building for a gunfire breakfast. Volunteers cook bacon, eggs, baked beans and toast with tea or coffee to wash it down with. 

The local pub donates bottles of rum to the RSL to make the traditional drink mixed with milk, donated by local stores. This tradition of rum and milk originated to boost soldiers courage before going into battle, with the gunfire breakfast. It was a nice taste, giving myself a relaxed feeling, mixed with thoughts of respect, sadness of war, and love.

Eveyone mingles and chats, all sorts of emotions are present. I show my photo to an elderly person I was chatting to, the one I took early this morning before the ANZAC day service. He said it was wonderful, reminding him of past days, and the peace we have today. He shed a few tears, I could feel his emotions of sadness of war, but also the peace of today. 

I must say when I took the photo at 4am, it was an eerie feeling, like the ghosts of past in this old town was watching me. I look at the photo always now, as I put it as the main photo on my phone. It reminds me of this ANZAC day, and the people who kept this land free and peaceful. And the vibes I felt talking to the elderly of this town and their stories. This photo will always remind me now of humanity, and what we all do to keep it peaceful.

I wandered back home, my belly full from the delicious gunfire breakfast and beverages. This was the meaning of a good life, the soldiers who made it possible. Not just soldiers from the Army, but all who helped, The Australian Navy and Airforce also. And the countless volunteers and humans who done their bit. It made me think.

I have a rest with my old dog on the verandah with a cup of coffee, telling her about my morning. Her beautiful face looks at me as if she knows, she is an old soul.

It is time to walk back to town to watch the 9am main street parade march through town. There are groups of school children with teachers, old veterans in old vintage cars and horse and carts. The local cadet groups, officials and all sorts of others groups participating. It was a wonderful organised event.

Midday hit and the local Pub down the road was having games of two-up to bet on. Two coins are tossed in the air and people bet on both landing on heads or tails, in part to mark a shared experience with diggers (soldiers). There was a lot of yelling with the game from the excitement of winning. Beer and Rum was shared with friends and visitors.

People enjoying each others company, having lunch and a few drinks. All here today to remember the fallen. This Australian tradition has been around for many years, and will continue for years to come. I am grateful for joining in, in this small country town.

My ANZAC day morning photo will always remind me of all of this day and what it means.