Paying tribute to ANZACs online

Published: Tuesday, 21 April 2020 at 5:00:00 PM

With traditional ANZAC Day services not being held this year due to coronavirus (COVID-19), the Shire of Coolgardie has developed a new, innovative way for the community to pay their respects.

On 25 April 2020, the Shire of Coolgardie’s Facebook page will be hosting several events of remembrance to commemorate ANZAC Day.

A series of videos will be launched throughout the day with poems, a minute of silence and musical tributes presented by local community members in Kambalda and Coolgardie.

Shire President, Malcolm Cullen said that despite the impact of COVID-19 on the ANZAC Day services usually hosted in the towns, this virtual commemoration will be a way to bring the community together and remember our fallen.

“ANZAC Day is a major event which typically brings together over 500 people in Coolgardie and Kambalda. The Shire is fortunate to have dedicated members of the Returned and Services League (RSL) in both towns that volunteer many hours to ensure we can appropriately acknowledge the sacrifices made by our servicemen and women during the conflict of war,” said Cr Cullen.

“It is important to ensure the history of the ANZAC is preserved for future generations to remember. The Coolgardie region had one of the largest intakes of soldiers that enlisted in the First World War and produced two Victoria Cross Medal Awards for bravery in battle.”

This year’s “at-home” ANZAC Day commemoration event will commence at 5.55am with the RSLWA’s ANZAC Day Driveway Dawn Service. Community members are invited to light a candle in their driveway in a show of mateship and tune into the participating radio stations at 6am to hear The Ode, The Last Post and join in the one-minute silence.

The proceedings on Facebook will commence at 7am, with Coolgardie resident Victor Churchill Dale and Cr Cullen sharing two poems set in the backdrop of a Coolgardie sunrise.

At 11am, Kambalda resident Allan Lindup will share a poem with a minute silence accompanied by Rosita Kruhse as the flag bearer. Cr Keast will complete the ANZAC commemoration with a recital of the Australian National Anthem accompanied by a slideshow of past ANZAC Day services held within the Shire of Coolgardie.

The day will end with a video of Willy Corcoran playing the bagpipes and the reveal of a special display at the Coolgardie Visitor Centre.

“Our Shire staff and the community have done a fantastic job in coordinating this important day in the absence of our usual ANZAC activities and events. We believe this will be a significant event for the Goldfields region and I encourage everyone to join the Shire of Coolgardie in taking part in our virtual ANZAC Day services,” said Cr Cullen.

Click here for the full event program

The Shire of Coolgardie invites the local community to participate in a virtual ANZAC Day this year. 

A previous ANZAC Day ceremony held at the Shire of Coolgardie. 

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