|
[Reporter: Gerry PECK; Photographers:
Margaret PECK & Vera HARPER; ‘Ead ‘Itter: George MILLIE] ANZAC Day in
Toowoomba ANZAC
Day went like a dream! Dusty Ashman
(42C) got to our place bright and early and we set off for Toowoomba at the
dawn of a beautiful sunny day. We arrived in good time after an uneventful
and almost traffic free 140 odd kilometres of travelling. A quick change into “regimentals” and we
were ready for the arrival, right on cue, of Reg
Harper (51A) and his group. He brought along Ronnie1, a
US Vietnam Veteran who was to march alongside of George’s special mate, Robin
Jock Lamont (Royal Australian Corps
of Signals). NOTES: 1
Ron
CURTIS, former Master Sergeant (US Army), 128 Assault Helicopter Company, 1st
Aviation Brigade, Phu Loi,
South Vietnam. We
made our way along to the closest point where we could park our cars and
walked the length of the route to where the BESA2 contingent was waiting to form up. Reg, because of his missing leg, was driven to the
assembly point, taking with him his and George’s eldest grandsons, who were
going to march with us. Dead on time,
we formed up and column by column, marched off. The two young ‘uns soon picked up on what was required and performed
flawlessly, they marched as the centre in the two files that we formed at the
end of the BESA contingent. NOTES: 2
British Ex-Servicemen’s
Association, Queensland Less successful
were the three valiant souls who marched in the file to our immediate front,
bless them. They were marching for their deceased fathers and who can gainsay
that? Problem was that they could not hold step! We solved that by taking our
step from the standard bearers and our cadence from the bands. I confess to
having a smirk at the thought that our column would have looked like a
“Dagwood sandwich”, with a well turned out crust fore and aft and a sloppy
“filling” between them! The
ceremony at the Cenotaph was very moving and the highlight was the speech by
a young girl3 who had
attended last year’s ceremonies at ANZAC Cove itself. She really did make an
excellent fist of that task! As usual, the crowds, both along the route and
at the park4 where the
Cenotaph is located, were huge. For a city of forty thousand souls, I have to
say that a very substantial percentage of them were either in it, or
attending it, very impressive! NOTES: 3
the
address was given by Miss Kristy O’Brien, Senior Student, St. Saviours
College, Toowoomba 4
Mothers’
Memorial Park
Photograph: Margaret PECK Roy ASHMAN with Mothers’ Memorial in the
background
Photograph: Margaret PECK (above): Robin LAMONT, Reg HARPER, Gerry PECK, Roy ASHMAN, Ron CURTIS, George
MILLIE Lunch
was taken at a restaurant just a short distance from the Cenotaph and after
that we all retired to Chez Millie and were there treated to fine finger
foods and desserts by Our
group took its farewell of Toowoomba and our mates at 16.00 hrs. We had
enjoyed perfect weather, a superb parade, a moving ceremony, the most
convivial of company and bonhomie that would put the best and most
effervescent champagne ever bottled to shame. Who
could ask for more? I wouldn’t have missed it for quids and to me it is yet
another chapter in the ongoing saga of what being a Brat has meant to
me.
The Day After Another
fabulous day, perfect weather, wonderful company and lashings of good humour and
bonhomie. A trip
to Toowoomba is always a pleasure but there is something almost sublime about
it when the trip includes the ANZAC Parade. Truly, the town and its people
put on a remarkable display and it is a privilege to be allowed to
participate in it. I can never thank you enough George for putting to
us the suggestion that we "show up" and support you in the Garden
City. Maggie and I count it as a highlight to our year and it is a
pleasure in its entirety. Ronnie
being there for this one was just fantastic and the Grandkids were brilliant,
they were taken up with the solemnity of the occasion and rose magnificently
to the demands of the parade. The lads never put a foot wrong! Which is more than I can say for the bloke to my immediate front
who shambled along like an amiable grizzly. Even that didn't detract
from the day though, as he was displaying his father's medals and therefore
upholding the tradition as best he might. I simply took my step from the
standard bearer, my cadence from the bands and ignored the meandering
directly ahead of me. Having Dusty
there was fantastic too, he is just so "unflappable" that I reckon
he is the original "Mr Cool". Kirrin's
bright conversation was a pleasant addition to the ambience of the lunch we
all enjoyed. So nice to come across a sensible teenager who is intelligent
and well spoken. It would seem, from the superb speech made by the other
young lady during the parade, that Toowoomba is well blest in that respect. Altogether
a day that money simply could not buy and we thank you all for your
parts in it. Published:
|
||||||
