ANZAC Day - a day to remember

IT may have looked like part of the show, but this was no act when a sailor managed to catch his colleague before he hit the ground. The dramatic incident personalised the Anzac spirit for those near enough to see it in the large crowd at Rosebud. Members of St John Ambulance were quickly on the scene, helping the man within seconds of his fainting.

CROWDS flocked to Anzac Day commemorations at Mornington Peninsula towns last week.

Organisers were thrilled with the huge turn-out of young people which they hope will ensure the future of the national event.

“The day went very well,” Mornington RSL sub-branch president Allan Paynter said.

“The dawn service was extra large with not a spot left on the lawn at Memorial Park, and we had 300 back for the Gunfire breakfast.

“Up to 4000 attended the march along Main Street from Queen Street. It was a packed house.”

Rosebud RSL sub-branch had about 2500 people at the dawn service, while a further 2000 lined Pt Nepean Road as 400 ex-servicemen and women marched to the cenotaph.

Long-time president Bruce Turner said the day was “really good”, with about 700 at the breakfast.

Hastings RSL sub-branch president Keiren Gallagher said the day went “really well”.

“The place was packed with 300-400 at the breakfast and more than 2000 at the main service,” he said.

“It was hard to see how many we at the dawn service but I turned around to thank the scouts and school groups and saw a sea of young faces, which made me happy as they are our future.”

A feature of the 11am service was the dedication of a paver near the cenotaph in memory of Hastings man, former soldier George Ingram, who served with distinction in both world wars.