ANZAC day and the dawn service will be very different for our family this year. But it doesn’t mean we cant participate with other Australians by showing our respects on 25th April. If you haven’t heard there is a grassroots campaign for people to commemorate Anzac Day by standing in their driveways at dawn.
Families across Australia are being asked to walk to the ends of their driveways on April 25 and light up the dawn. Across our nation, people will be standing at their gates, on balconies or verandas at 6am and hold a candle to fallen heroes.
With the cancellation of the usual public marches and services, many radio networks will live stream so people can tune-in outside on their phones.
Musicians everywhere are also being called on to take to their front yards to play the Last Post and The Rouse for neighbours. Residents are being urged to dress windows and mailboxes and street poles with poppies and asking kids to make bright red “wreaths” to hang on doors.
What began as a grassroots idea to mark Australia’s great day of remembrance has grown into a national campaign.
The dawn driveway initiative gives Australians a way that they can have their own private commemoration and there is no denying it is a very positive step.
Credit for the idea is being directed at Melbourne man Justin Wilbur, the son of a Vietnam veteran who says, “nothing is going to stop us from remembering” our Diggers. Justin started the Aussies & Kiwis for ANZACs facebook page which can be found here. https://www.facebook.com/groups/anzacday2020/
So like so many across the country on 25th April at 6.00am we’ll be at the end of our driveway with a candle wearing our red and purple poppy pin and thinking of all who served. We hope you might like to join us.
Let we forget.
James Rae
