First light: Dawn breaks on Point Danger for Torquay’s Anzac Day service. To see more of Tommy Ritchie’s pictures of the service, search ID number 80564 at starphotos.com.au
By Cherie Donnellan
SIX-thousand patrons craned to hear veteran Paul Copeland pay homage to fallen soldiers amid driving wind and rain at Torquay’s Point Danger dawn service on Anzac Day.
Retired Warrant Officer Copeland honoured Australian soldiers who “fought for the freedoms and liberty that we in society today take for granted”.
“The significance of this remembrance gets our nation up out of bed in the early hours of the morning to commemorate our servicemen and women who have given their all for Australia.”
But the Order of Australia recipient and founding member of Australian Peacekeeper and Peacemaker Veterans’ Association said “little is known” about peacekeeping.
Mr Copeland said peacekeepers were “underrepresented” despite serving in “Australia’s longest commitment to bring about international peace”.
Defining the role of peacekeepers was difficult because “every operation is different”, he said.
“They have different mandates, contributing nations, rules of engagement, laws of armed conflict, cultures and languages, smells, climates and landscapes.
“But one thing is not different, that is the sacrifice of our service people.”
Mr Copeland praised Torquay RSL president Kevin Egan for his service as a police peacekeeper in Cyprus in the 1960s.
Hundreds of marchers gathered wrapped in layers of warm clothing before dawn at Torquay’s Price Street meeting point.
Winchelsea resident and Vietnam veteran Ray Atkinson proudly displayed his war medals.
“Serving my country was the most important thing and today we commemorate everyone who has served,” he said.
Geelong Cub Scout Harry Mills, 9, marched for the first time in the Pt Danger service.
He attended each year but he was “excited” to play a greater role this year.
World War II navy veteran Ces Browning had to spend Anzac Day in his retirement village after watching the Torquay service “grow and grow” since he first settled in the area almost 50 years ago.
“It’s so well run and so well attended now…and I love that so many children go.”
Mr Browning said his service in the navy was a “good grounding” that fostered his “love of the sea”.
The Torquay seaside service reminded him of his service in Papua New Guinea and the Philippines, he said.
“But I had it easy. My real admiration is for the original Anzacs who did it hard in Gallipoli.”
