The ANZAC day dawn service was to open after midnight, but we made the decision not to go until 3 am. All people attending had to go through security checks at Glissy, just outside of Amiens, then everyone was taken by bus to Villers-Bretonneux. We went with Valérie and the children. Cyril was on official fireman business in VB, so we met up with him later in the day. Guess who we would see again on this bus? Jeff. I had a feeling that we would see him again, and I was right. He told me that yes indeed, the GPS did work after I had drawn him the map. We also met Gilles on the bus, but we never saw him again once we got off the bus. The line for entry was long but the security process was fast and efficient. No one could get to the site without first going on a bus. We received our packs which included a beanie, a poncho and the order of service. I still haven't opened them.

When we arrived at the memorial, the French and Australian flags had been lowered to half mast. We found our seats. As we were with the Greffs, there was no space for all of us to sit together. Dad and I sat at a place with three empty chairs, while the others found a place further back with more free seats. Having a French SIM card in a phone I found was very useful for the trip. I'm glad I got it before I left. I was able to stay in contact with Valerie as we had split up. I mentioned we found three seats. Guess who we would see walking past once we sat down? Jeff. As with the rest of this trip, things just fell perfectly into place. This was the third and final time we would meet. He was disappointed that we were not staying longer in Naours, as he was there for five days in total.

The ceremony began at 5.30 am. It began with a short film about the postman who would be the bearer of bad news to the families at home during the war. It was a powerful and memorable way to start off the ceremony. I don't have much to say about the ceremony itself. We had speeches by the Prince of Wales, Édouard Philippe and Malcolm Turnbull. The Birralee choir was excellent, as usual. Of course much nicer now that I could hear them on the day live, instead of home on the television. I was amazed to hear Mozart's Ave Verum being sung. I took a small, noisy recording of this. By the time of the final Reveille, the two countries flags were at the top of the pole. I took a longer, less noisy recording of this.

I found walking around the grounds as the offical party departed a very nice experience, as can be seen in many of the photos I took of them all, including the big three, and other official guests like Marise Payne, Australian Defence minister and Senator Derryn Hinch. I tried to capture many of the other people, such as the Frenchmen marching as part of their respective veteran groups. Before the trip, I was contacted by the producer of an ABC program. They wanted to interview us because the day before we arrived in Paris, they visited the caves at Naours, as part of their program on stories about the war. Whatever form this documentary will take, it will be broadcast in November. Gilles mentioned our names to them, so they wanted to interview us about the caves and connecting war and family history. It had been agreed that they would contact us after the dawn service, but I didn't hear from them. I must have gave them the wrong number or something. We decided to go to the Villers-Bretonneux town service at 8 am. Valérie asked us if we wanted to go to the town service. Up until then we hadn't decided if we were going. Since Cyril was there, it was a great opportunity, as well as giving us a good chance at catching the ABC. Dad caught Stephanie Brantz (the MC) to ask where we might find Richard Fidler's team. She sent us to another ABC person who told us they were likely going to the town service.

Valérie was taking the children home, so had joined the very long queue of people waiting for the bus. We also joined the line. We then realised that this very long line was for Glissy. Someone told us to follow them as we asked how to get to Villers-Bretonneux, not Glissy. So they directed us and a French couple to the correct bus. It took quite some time to walk past ALL those people queueing for the other buses, it seemed to go on forever. Seems that not too many people were interested in the town service. Later, Valérie told us that it took hours for them to get back to Glissy. I was really amazed that so many people decided that was the end of the service for them. There was one or two buses only that went to the town. I'm really glad we made the right decision to go into town.

There were barriers set up near the centre of the town, on the Rue de la République, opposite the memorial in the park. We didn't wander too far away from where the bus dropped us off. I just stood at the barrier with a good view of the memorial. At the time, the small pink leaves were falling off the trees everywhere. The wind was blowing them everywhere. It was an experience that I had to capture, so I took a short video of this atmosphere. Everyone lined up waiting. I wasn't really thinking too much of where we should be. It happened that I had stood in a very good position. Then the official party arrived. Again, I had my camera ready to see who I could photograph. During this time, I had noticed I was standing next to someone with a different type of pass. I saw a little flash of the name tag. Remember that I said things fell into place well during this trip? Well, turns out I was standing beside Richard Fidler and Pat O'Brien (two Australian journalists) - exactly the people I was looking for. I didn't want to interrupt at the wrong time, but I also didn't want to lose them. Once the ceremony had finished, I had to act quickly as they were about to search for a story. I just simply told them that their producer contacted me and then introduced myself. They were surprised to find me, and I was happy that I had the opportunity to introduce myself. They asked me if I was going to be around for a while. I said they could take their time. I didn't have the phone number still, so I knew I had to search for them again.

When the officials arrived, it was Malcolm Turnbull and Édouard Philippe again, and this time Lucy Turnbull was with them (no Prince Charles, alas). I did get some more shots of Marise Payne and Derryn Hinch again. Again, I was in the right place at the right time. When the officials left, they were again followed by another important rear guard, including the sapeurs-pompiers.

After the ceremony, in the local hall, many people had gathered to listen to performances by Australian school children. As it was completely full, we didn't stay there. I was looking for the journalists, and Dad was looking for the Victoria School. Money for this school was contributed by the Victorian government. Next door to it is the Franco-Australian museum. While Dad was looking at the school, I went to the main part of town where I saw the media throng at the hôtel de ville - the ABC were interviewing the prime minister. I had found them again! During the interview there were the black cars with tinted window to whisk away the VIPs when they were done, which took some time. After they had finished, I caught their attention again. Unfortunately it was no longer possible to be interviewed there on the day. They told me that they would interview me when back in Sydney. I'm still waiting to get some details about this interview, but I know they are still interested. It's better this way, since I can plan what I will talk about, and need to make sure the details are correct.

After leaving the ABC team, Cyril and I went back to find Dad at the Victoria School. Cyril left to bring his car back there to get us. Before I found Dad, I went to the information desk. I asked them about how to get into the school. Entrance to the school was free, but they charge to visit the centre right next to the school. After I left, I realised that I didn't say goodbye or thank you. According to the French, it is rude to enter a shop or any place attended by someone. I committed this faux pas so many times, I felt bad each time I realised my mistake. Therefore I decided to go back to say goodbye to the lady I was speaking to, and the others indirectly. I took it as an opportunity to speak French to them. She understood I wanted to practise with her, but mainly to fix my cultural mistake. You even have to say bonjour to people in a shop who you don't see directly. Even if you see someone, it is hard to get used to it when you are so used to not doing it at home.

It was around 10 am when we left the town. Cyril had called in to the fire station in Villers-Bretonneux to see his boss for coffee. Unfortunately at this time, I was feeling sick and very tired. He kindly took us back to Flesselles to catch up on some sleep, as I was completely stuffed for the next few hours. Later in the day, we returned to Villers-Bretonneux, as Cyril had got for us tickets to the Sir John Monash Centre. It was officially opened the day before by both prime ministers. The John Monash Centre is an interactive kind of museum about Australians at war. You can either use a smartphone with headphones, or they give you something to hear the interactive exhibits with. It was presented as a mixture of interactive and static exhibits. I liked the presentation of the everyday items used during the war, as well as an exhibit about the conscription referenda of 1916 and 1917. Since we visited the centre at the end of the day, it was a bit rushed right at the end. All in all, we were very lucky to have gone there thanks to Cyril, since the centre had been booked out online for quite a while before it even opened.

This was our last full day in Picardy