Anzac Day Dawn Service

I am at the memorial gates at the Domain in Paraparaumu with my brother William.
This photo was taken on the 25th of April 2010, at the ANZAC dawn service. I am wearing my grandads medals and beret. Grandad was in the army in Borneo. Grandad wanted me to wear his medals because he couldnt attend the ANZAC service.

Reported by Thomas Grant.

Anzac Day Dawn Service

Army Training

We had a great day on Friday 23rd April doing Military exercises. Major O'Connor organised the events for the sessions and had the help of Corporal Duncan and Staff Sergeant. We started the session with physical exercises such as running,sit ups and push ups. We learned how to fall into line and briefly looked at marching in time. We then had three different activities. At the stretchers we had to bandage an arm and a leg and then work out a safe system of lifting and carrying the stretchers across the field with the patient. There was a lot of screaming going on from the patients! Another activity was sand bagging. We had to cooperate with a partner to half fill sacks of sand, drag them to a point and then build a wall with the bags. The shovels we used were small but very sharp. When the camoflague net was thrown over the sand bags it looked like part of the landscape from a distance. We also looked at a small tent used by individual soldiers, their rations, packs and some equipment. The third activity was erecting a tent that would be used by a medical team. Each group had a different part to do towards the construction of the tent. This also required a lot of team work. At the end of the day Major O'Connor took the whole syndicate for the lowering of the flag and raising of the flag and explained its significance. We all placed a poppy under the flag pole to remember all those who have fought and died in previous wars.

Erecting Tent

Stretcher Bearers

Medical Attention

Military Exercises

Anzac Day

It would be great if you could go to one of the ANZAC services on Sunday. Bright and early for the dawn service at 6.20am at the gates of the hospital, or at 9.20am at the same venue. See details on the notice that was sent home. Wear a poppy if you bought one.