30 April, 2021
ANZAC Ceremonies well attended
ANZAC Day commemorations across the Toowoomba Region were very well supported this year with all centres reporting increased attendances.
The day began with Dawn Services held in reasonably mild conditions compared to other years.
At Westbrook, where the crowd grows larger as the years go on, the attendance at the Dawn Service was probably the best ever. Many of those attending began arriving before 5am, even though the service did not begin until 5.30.
The man who first began observing ANZAC Day at Westbrook with just his dog for company many years ago, Christopher Hughes, addressed this year’s event and revealed a little about each of the twelve men from Westbrook who took part in World War 1, which was termed “The Great War”. This year’s ceremony was built around the 100th anniversary of the Royal Australia Air Force and the guest speaker was Leading Aircraftman Lawson McCurran, who told the story of two inspiring Indigenous members of the RAAF in World War 1.
At Greenmount, there was also a large crowd.The guest speaker at Greenmount was Lieutenant Madoc Collins, from the Australian Army’s 73 Squadron, 7th Signal Regiment. He reminded the crowd that ANZAC Day was a special day to remember those who had served and to say “thank you” for their efforts in defending our country. Lieutenant Collins spoke of the legendary Simpson and his donkey - a stretcher bearer who used the animal to carry injured soldiers from the front to the beach at Gallipoli. He said selfless acts like this have been repeated many times by Australians in many theatres of war.
