ANZAC DAY SERVICE AT GERRINGONG

FEDERAL member for Gilmore, Joanna Gash gave an emotional speech to around 100 people gathered at the Gerringong Town Hall last Sunday, calling on all present to promise yourself to honour the respect so expensively bought on the battlefields of the world.

Mrs Gash took the opportunity to pay tribute to the legend of the ANZAC and the role that it has had in shaping our nation.

Standing at dawn service provides an eerie feeling as to what the soldiers went through, she said.

It is a privilege to share the memories of people we may never have known, but who gave so much on this very special day.

The legend of the ANZAC is necessary for our country, it is something to be preserved and honoured and it is a reminder why we should not go to war.

Mrs Gash said despite the inevitable ageing and dwindling numbers of veterans at marches she was delighted to see a renewed interest and respect emerging towards those who served emerging from the younger generations.

I am refreshed by the new spirit of patriotism resurfacing. There are large numbers of young people making the pilgrimageto Gallipoli, while we are also seeing large numbers of people attending services and marches right across the country waving flags and holding their grandfathers hands, she said.

I cannot see fault with showing the world how proud we are of our history. The memory must be perpetual, promise yourself to honour the respect so expensively bought. The greatest memory we can provide is the one in our hearts,

Kiama Municipal Council Mayor, Sandra McCarthy also spoke, calling on the younger generations to continue carrying the ANZAC spirit.

I am very pleased to see Gerringong Primary School students participating here today. For their involvement as future citizens of our community it is the ANZAC values that you should take right throughout life, she said. It is the young people who will be the ones who carry the true spirit of the ANZAC into the future.

A Prayer for the nation and peace was read out by Gerringong Primary School students, Bradley Cullen and Rachel Adams while Kiama MP, Matt Brown (right) read the commemoration of the fallen.