Numbers were up along the Tweed Coast as hundreds turned out to march and thousands more watched this year’s Anzac Day Services.
A crowd of more than 2000 people turned up for the traditional dawn service at Tweed Heads with thousands more turning up for the 11am service.
More than 400 people braved the cold and the early morning to attend this year’s dawn service at Cudgen.
Numbers were well up on previous years for both those at the memorial and for those who took part in the pre-service march.
Under parade marshal Hugh Aitken, Cudgen’s march weaved through the trees planted for those who enlisted from Cudgen in the first World War and in the cold dark dawn they stopped to lay flowers at each tree before heading to the memorial. Master of ceremonies for the morning was Warrant Officer Class One Adam Mills RAE retired – better known to most as the president of Cudgen Surf Club while Defence Recruiting officer Captain Simon Boxell was guest speaker – speaking of an Anzac Day during the Korean war.
For the second year in a row a dawn service was also held at Kingscliff – an hour later. The inaugural event attracted 200 last year, this year more than 600 people gathered beachside for the event. Master of Ceremonies was Brian Vickery of the Kingscliff RSL Sub-branch but the choir and guest speakers were provided by Kingscliff High School.
At Pottsville, a crowd of around 900, including a large group of Pottsville Public School students attended the 8am ceremony after a march through the streets.
“We had 800-900, its the biggest I’ve ever seen here,” Pottsville RSL Sub branch president John Hawes said after the event.
“It was good to see Geoff Provest here and we invited the mayor. This year had no hesitation. It was just unbelievable, (the numbers) even along the streets. I’ve never seen that many children from the school (taking part). There were more than 200.”
The increase in numbers continued at the main march at Kingscliff with hundreds taking part and even more lining the street or taking it in from balconies and windows along the route down Marine Parade from the bowls club.
The Kingscliff event took on special significance with the surf boat named for Sapper Rowan Robinson sitting on the grass just back from the cenotaph. Family friend Barbara Buckman tried unsuccessfully to choke back tears as she lay a wreath on behalf of the friends and family of the young Kingscliff man killed in Afghanistan in July last year.
“It’s still fresh,” Mrs Buckman, whose own children grew up with Rowan, said after the ceremony.
“It’s when they all get together – you realise then that one is missing.”
The boat, which was dedicated to “Robbo” late last year and bears his picture, recently took the Cudgen Surf Lifesaving boat crew to bronze at the Australian titles.
“We believe Robbo gave it a bit of a push,” Kingscliff master of ceremonies Brian Vickery told the large crowd.
See the Anzac Day crowds along the coast in the following pages and keep an eye out next week to see how our local schools marked the event.
