Hundreds attended the moving Lawson Anzac Day march and service for 2018 today, where the “grandchild” tree from Gallipoli’s Lone Pine ridge was unveiled to the public.
The march along Honour Avenue commemorated the spirit of Anzacs – those marching, were marching for those who could not.
The program of service remembered the words of C.E.W. Bean who remarked that “Anzac stood, and still stands for, reckless valor in good cause, for enterprise, fidelity, resourcefulness, comradeship and an endurance that will never admit defeat.”
The Lawson service always has a strong representation from the Royal Australian Air Force and a special flypast of a C-130J Hercules occurred at 10.50am. The catafalque party included Squadron leader Marcus Watson, Leading Aircraftmen Nicholas Kambouris and Sean Cassidy, Corporal Adrian Divinagracia and Sergeant Peter Harcourt from Glenbrook and and Richmond bases.
The service is co-ordinated by Lawson Combined Services Club who raised the funds for the Lone Pine tree. he tree is the “grandchild” of the original tree standing on Lone Pine ridge from August 6, 1915, smuggled back home as a branch by a serviceman. Ex serviceman Simon Manwaring was again the master of the parade.
The Rural Fire Service plays a large role at Lawson, as with most other services large and small in Mountains villages and the RFS’s Allie Hilbig with her three legged dog, Beauty, was one of many emergency services members and local residents and school students laying a wreath at the cenotaph.
