Lest We Forget - Anzac Day in West Arnhem

11 May 2015

Soldiers from 8/12 Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery stand in silence at dawn on Saturday 25 April as members of the Jabiru community lay wreaths in honour of the fallen.

AS the final, plaintive notes of The Last Post sounded out across Jabiru Town Plaza, more than 250 people stood for a minute of silence, paying their respects to those who have fallen in war in the defence of our country. It was a huge turnout for Anzac Day in Jabiru, as residents turned out in droves to commemorate the centenary of the Gallipoli landings, one of the most significant events in our national calendar.

In his opening address, West Arnhem Councillor Ralph Blyth spoke of the terrible odds the Anzac troops faced coming ashore on that fateful day in Turkey, Sunday 25 April 1914. The losses were unimaginable, with more than 8700 Australians killed and nearly 20,000 wounded in the ill-fated campaign. The ripples of loss spread far and wide throughout Australian society. Yet over time Gallipoli has come to be identified with something unique to the Australian identity, the ‘Anzac spirit’, which stood, and still stands, for reckless valour in a good cause, for enterprise, resourcefulness, fidelity, comradeship and endurance that will never own defeat.

In the still dawn light, as the soldiers of 8/12 Regiment stood in a silent guard of honour, one Jabiru local, Christian Diddams, delivered a heartfelt Centenary Address, deeply touching all present in a sombre, yet galvanising tribute to the memory of our fallen soldiers – not least Christian’s own brother Sergeant Blaine Diddams, killed during an engagement with insurgents on operations in Afghanistan in 2012.

Christian Diddams with the Anzac Day Centenary Address.

As the sun rose, Mandy Van Zanen sang the Australian and New Zealand anthems with a power and clarity that did justice to the occasion.

To mark this year’s Anzac Day services, West Arnhem Regional Council held a Centenary March from the town plaza to Lake Jabiru Park, with guest speaker, former Australian Army serviceman Ben Whiting, and an AF/18A Hornet flypast from RAAF Tindal Base. The Centenary March, led by 8/12 Regiment and Reverend Lindsay Parkhill from Uniting Church, was extraordinarily well-attended.

Bombardier Justin Cowan and his men from 8/12 Regiment were of invaluable assistance in preparing for the Dawn Service and the Centenary March, and their presence was well-received by the Jabiru community, especially students at Jabiru Area School. 8/12 Regiment visited Jabiru School on Friday afternoon with their ‘Bushmaster’, an Australian-produced Protected Mobility Vehicle that can rapidly deploy up to ten battle-ready troops in all environments.

Following the visit, two students from the school trained with the 8/12 Regiment soldiers in order to perform the flag-raising ceremony on the day, and Clontarf student Corben Nabanardi read The Ode. Clontarf Jabiru Academy Directory Leith Waterbury says their students be are keen to be involved in future Anzac Day events.

This year’s event drew plenty of people, with ERA’s Warren Moffitt and Spotless chef Mick Grist reportedly served more than 300 breakfasts on the morning at Lake Jabiru Park, which is a tremendous turnout for a town of not much more than 1000 people.

Visitors from Canberra, Vicki and Peter Donnelly, told The Wire they were thrilled to take part in the Centenary March in Jabiru.

Former Australian Army serviceman Peter Donnelly and his wife Vicki from Canberra, who attended the Dawn Service and took part in the first Anzac Day march in Jabiru.

“Peter was in the Australian Army for 22 years, but this is the first time we have been in an Anzac Day march,” Vicki said. “We were hoping to make it to Jabiru in time for the Dawn Service, and when we arrived yesterday afternoon the staff at Bowali Visitor Centre told us all about it.”

She said she was amazed by the number of people who turned out for the commemoration, and the outpouring of Anzac spirit in Jabiru. “Christian’s speech was just fantastic. I have never heard a more personal and moving story,” Vicki said. “I just had goosebumps.”

WARRUWI WELL-ATTENDED

Around 75 people turned out for the Dawn Service in Warruwi, which was conducted by school principal Daryll Kinnane. West Arnhem Regional Council Community Services Manager in Warruwi, Kupa Teao, who hails from New Zealand, said the crowds congregated for the service on the esplanade across the road from the Police Station. “Throughout the 45-minute service we saw the sun rising from beyond the horizon,” Mr Teao said. “It was a wonderful service, with a beautiful backdrop, great turnout, and enjoyed by everyone in attendance.”

Warruwi Community School Principal Daryll Kinnane overseeing the Dawn Service on the Goulburn Island esplanade.