“WHAT a wonderful sight,”
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“A panorama of young and old, 365 degrees around us.”
Mayor Paul Hogan marveled at the numbers before him (and behind him), when speaking at the Anzac Day Parade on Saturday.
The march contingent filled Fotheringham Park and members of the community filled the streets.
According to senior vice president of Taree RSL Sub-branch and chairman of the Taree 2015 Anzac Day Planning Committee, Darcy Elbourne, the police force on the day believe there was around 6000 people in attendance.
“It exceeded all expectations,” Mr Elbourne said.
The parade started at the Taree Camphor Laurel Memorial Grove in Albert Street and moved along via Macquarie and Victoria Streets to the Taree Memorial Clock at Fotheringham Park.
“The further we marched the deeper the crowd grew.”
Before the ceremony commenced the Royal Australian Airforce’s jet the E-7A Wedgetail was right on time.
It ripped across the sky, so fast, some onlookers may have missed it.
President of Taree RSL Sub-branch Bob Coombes delivered a stirring opening address.
“Not only do we remember 100 years since the Gallipoli campaign, but 100 years of service,” Mr Coombes said.
“We have an everlasting memory of service, sacrifice, tenacity, courage, resilience and mateship.
“This is now a sacred place, where you may pay respects and remember them, where youth can be taught about the Anzac spirit, where it can be nurtured, and allowed to live on.”
Mr Coombes spoke of the hard work carried out by Taree RSL Sub-branch to add to the Taree memorial with a memorial walkway and new brick path.
“I express a sincere thank you and an extremely well done,” Mr Coombes said.
Mayor Hogan expressed his appreciation of these new features by declaring it is a fitting place to pay our respects.
“It is a permanent reminder of the sacrifices made of men and women of this country, so we can live in freedom.
“They lived and died courageously.
“We should never forget them - their spirit lives on,” he said.
The mayor went on to encourage the re-telling of Anzac facts and stories.
“We must never let these stories fade, we must re-tell them, share them with our young people, so they live on for centuries to come.”
A special addition to the ceremony was the unveiling of the centenary plaque by Mr Coombes and federal member for Lyne Dr David Gillespie.
“The thing I find so special is that even though our veterans’ numbers are sadly declining, the descendants proudly wearing medals of veterans is increasing, and are really embracing Anzac Day,” Mr Elbourne added.
