Home vigils pay tribute to those who have served
Puts on a special show
the Rugby League Club we’ve got the ability to keep people inside and the field for kids to run around and have a good time. I’ve got a liquor licence and we can enjoy the moment and embrace Anzac Day on this side,” he said. “I’d hate to take it away from Palmerston City up the top but I think we could do something at the club next year for sure.”
But amid uncertain times, the memorial provided an unorthodox answer for 2020.
AS the clock ticked past 6am on Anzac Day, the melancholy notes of the Last Post filled the air.
But instead of being at the Cenotaph in Darwin CBD, the sombre song rang out in a tiny side street in Rosebery.
It was 14-year-old Caedyn Taylor honouring his greatgrandfather, a former member of the RAAF.
With his family and neighbours proudly watching on, it was one of the most memorable and unique commemorations to unfold.
“I feel really proud about honouring everyone. We have some pictures of my greatgrandfather and he fought in the war so I feel happy I can honour him,” Caedyn said.
“On Friday I played the Last Post at school at the Anzac Day ceremony we had and since I was able to do it then, I thought I’d play it at dawn.”
Neighbour Caleb Burke, standing with his wife Jessica and boys Nathaniel, 7, and Ryan, 4, said hearing the tune played in his own street helped make Anzac Day one to remember.
“It’s great to see what the neighbours have done, it’s excellent to hear the Last Post … it definitely reinforced the need to reflect and the minute (of) silence brought a tear to the wife’s eye. It’s good to remember,” he said.
“It’s unique circumstances, it’s a time of remembrance for those back in Gallipoli, (those) past and present.”
Having served 10 years with the Australian Defence Force, Mr Burke was remembering his friends who never came home or recovered from conflict.
“I was deployed to Afghanistan in 2010 at 19. Unfortunately we did lose three members in a helicopter crash that year so I particularly remember those members that we lost,” he said.
“For me it’s remembering the mates we’ve lost overseas and that we continue to lose … (Anzac Day) is a good time to reflect on it, it’s good to have my kids out here with me, we need to pass the tradition on.”
Other houses across Darwin and Palmerston – the only capital city to have faced wartime bombings – were adorned with flags, poppies and other military apparel as residents commemorated Anzac Day from home due to coronavirus restrictions, while those in apartments took to balconies with candles.
As the Reveille finished, the crack of a can could be heard, as the first cold beer was shared with the memories of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
Darwin restaurateur Jason Hanna ensured they kept flowing, delivering free beer to the driveway of veterans to help provide some comfort on a day stripped of its significance thanks to the lock down regulations and the coronavirus pandemic.
In Alice Springs, the small silhouette of Sydney Kinsman could be seen in the driveway of his Araluen home at 6am.
Across the road his grandchildren stood with their families, while next door, a group of community members watched and held candles.
As a bugler played the Last Post, a group of cyclists stopped in respect for the 98year-old World War II veteran, who is one of the last living “Rats of Tobruk”.
Determined to give Mr Kinsman an Anzac Day to remember, later that morning, with the permission of authorities, residents drove past Mr Kinsman’s house in a procession to acknowledge his service and sacrifice.
Mr Kinsman’s grandson and returned serviceman Ben Bruce was one standing across the road.
“It’s certainly different, but Anzac Day has always been ‘Grandpa’s Day’ to us,” he said.
“It obviously has some meaning to me having served now myself, but I think for now it’s still ‘ Grandpa’s Day’ as much as anything else.”
NT army cadets, returned home amid the coronavirus pandemic, took it upon themselves to take pictures at dawn at some iconic Territory locations.
“It’s our only opportunity,” Lt Cadet officer Andy Ralph said.
“We can’t go to the Cenotaph or public places so the idea is for our cadets to head out bush near where they live and get a photo of these great places while commemorating Anzac Day.”
“It’s fantastic to still be able to honour the Anzac spirit while being out on county.”
Across the nation, public services and marches were cancelled due to the coronavirus threat. It was the third time marches had been cancelled – the last time in 1942 and previously during the devastating Spanish flu outbreak.