Pat’s Weekly Column – 19 April 2021

This Sunday 25 April is ANZAC Day, a day for us to remember the sacrifice of all Australian and New Zealand military personnel who have served our nations for over a century.

ANZAC Day is an opportunity for us all to pay our respects and show our gratitude for the service and sacrifice of all those who have provided us with the freedoms we enjoy today.

Last week I had the honour of visiting Nambucca Heads resident, Patricia Quirk, and her family, to present her with a Certificate of Appreciation for her service during World War 2.

Patricia served as an Aircraftwoman based in the Headquarters Records area of the Royal Australian Air Force between 1944 and 1946, and really embraces the true spirit of the ANZAC.

To Patricia and all those who have given so much to serve their country we say thank you.

Across the mid-north coast, we have a proud history of military service, and last year, with the challenges of coronavirus, we found new and creative ways to honour those who serve and have served. We attended driveway vigils at dawn, arranged private floral tributes, and contacted current and former defence personnel to check in and show our respect.

This year things are starting to look a little more normal, and whilst there are still restrictions in place, there are many ways we can commemorate ANZAC Day, and I encourage everyone to attend a local service if possible.

The best to see what’s happening in your local area is to check with your local RSL, and if you can’t attend a local service, you can tune in to the ABC to Watch the Dawn Service and National Ceremony live from the Australian War Memorial.

You could leave a poppy and personalised Anzac Day message on the Virtual Poppy Wall at lestweforget.gov.au, or you could gather your neighbours and take part in the RSL’s ‘Light up the Dawn’ campaign, by standing at the end of your driveway at dawn.

However you choose to commemorate ANZAC day… Lest we forget.

Pat.