ANZAC– a special day in the Valley
The commemoration of ANZAC Day is one of the most significant events of the year.
Families and friends gather at the War Memorial in the heart of the village to remember this special day and honour the men and women who have defended our country and cherished way of life.
Ten years ago a new committee was formed to ensure the service ran smoothly.
Gordon and Barbara Douglas together with Lance Brown, Martin Barclay and Joan Bray established a service that followed the general format of all ANZAC services, but included some innovations that extended community involvement.
Students from Kangaroo Valley Primary School lead the parade carrying the flags of Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain, a boy and girl are chosen to recite the ‘ODE' and the emotional poem ‘SIR', and several of the wreaths from community organisations are laid by other children.
This enables the next generation to learn the protocol and by their becoming an integral part of the proceedings they and their contemporaries will ensure the future reverent commemoration of our war heroes.
Each year the attendance has grown and we are joined by many ‘out of towners' either in the crowd or marching with the veterans and their descendants.
It is not a big parade, but well representative of all ages in the community.
The ANZAC Address is given by a Valley personality, the Catafalque party is provided by HMAS ‘Albatross', Captain Tony Aldred, resplendent in his naval uniform, proudly leads the parade, the crowds enthusiastically wave flags and applaud and many beautiful wreaths are laid by members of this thoughtful and caring community.
Weather permitting, a thundering ‘fly-over', courtesy of Williamtown Air Base is performed; much to the delight of all age groups.
It is a good community day.
However the celebrations do not end with the service.
Back at Osborne Park, the Lions Club provide a tasty sausage sizzle, the ladies from the CWA serve a ‘cuppa' and Anzac biscuits and the children are treated to ice creams and drinks, courtesy of the generous proprietor of the ‘ Friendly Inn', Paul Mulready.
Every year, there is an essay and poster competition for the primary school children. The aim is to instil the tradition of ANZAC by encouraging the young people to explore the history of Australia's involvement in various theatres of world conflicts and appreciate how the ‘spirit of ANZAC' was born and has endured.
Every school child contributes, the judges are members of the community and the prize giving ceremony concludes each ANZAC FAMILY DAY.
Each child also receives a commemorative coin as a thankyou.
Some of the essays are taken to Canberra by our Federal Member, Joanna Gash and read in a session of the House of Representatives.
The school receives a copy of Hansard.
This unique commemoration of ANZAC day has become a tradition and follows the ‘Friendly Show' as the most important celebration in the Valley events calendar.
ANZAC Day has been important to the community of Kangaroo Valley, since the unveiling of the War Memorial in 1920.
From the Boer War, WWI and WWII, men from this village have enlisted.
Their names are for all time honoured on this granite plinth in daily grateful recognition of their service.
Photograph (above) shows Captain Tony Aldred (left) surveying the parade of current defence personnel, the men and women of past forces, the school children and general public, taking an enthusiastic and proud part in Kangaroo Valley's "one day of the year".