On ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) Day 2014 Maria and I decided to attend the traditional Dawn Service at the State War Memorial in King's Park. For this I got up at 4am (oh no...) and at 4:30am I picked up Maria. Actually Kyuwon wanted to join us as well but she overslept. Well, we arrived at 4:50am in the city center and took one of the many shuttle buses to King's Park and then made our way towards the memorial. Lots of screens were showing archive fottage of different wars.
Last year nearly 40,000 people attended the Dawn Service and they expected nearly 50,000 this year. It was certainly very full but very peaceful. A few speeches about the importance of ANZAC Day and the beginnings and the participation in different wars since 1914. Lots of wreaths were layed, the ode was read, one minute of silence and some planes cruised over our heads. It was a touching ceremony while it got lighter. Unfortunately due to the many clouds the sun couldn't be seen.
At 6:30am the service was over. A service at the Jewish Memorial and another at the Vietnam War Memorial followed but we headed to the shuttle buses to get back into the city. At 7:30am we got into Stirling Gardens and into the line for some FREE Gunfire Breakfast. Which meant hamburger (this time without beetroot and pineapple), ANZAC biscuits, some fruits and tea or coffee. They even provided water and soft drinks for FREE.
At 9am we positioned ourselves near the dais and opposite Trinity Church. It was certainly very crowded.
Like at Australia Day flags were handed out and for a donation you also got a button.
Some more small air displays and the parade started on time at 9:30am. There were lots and lots and LOTS of army representatives. Some bands in between, some on horses, some with flags and others with guns.
This little girl loved to swing her flag. She was so cute!
It was a great atmosphere and I was very glad that it didn't rain. It rained quite heavily during the night but this morning it was dry and fairly nice at about 20 degrees Celsius. I took lots of pictures.
Some returned service men and women were driven in historic / past vintage cars. Channel 9 and 7 News reporters and many other photographers swarmed through the street and interviewed people.
Proud display of medals. On ANZAC Day you get FREE public transport travel when wearing a uniform or medals and I am sure it was not only that why so many wore everything they had.
At 10:30am some communities from other countries paid their tribute as well like Korea and Vietnam.
At 11am Maria and I got into the car and faced the challenge of navigating through the city to get back to the South of Perth as still some main streets were closed. We eventually made it, I dropped Maria off, went grocery shopping (in contrast to Germany even on main public holidays there would be some stores open) and back to the empty house. I had lunch and then a long nap!
Yours ANZAC-Day-participating Stefanie
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Have your say now! Would you do the same thing or would you do it differently? Do you have any travel tipps for me for my onwards travels? let me know!