ANZAC DAY 2017

Well, this particular trip started with an absolutely fabulous day in Breakfast Point, Sydney at a Dawn Service. We had left home the previous Saturday to stay in Lane Cove where we were cat-sitting Georgie and Leo for Karina and Rory who were in New Zealand for a couple of days and luckily this coincided with our being part of the Anzac service. Sunday we had a delightful luncheon at the Longueville Hotel with Alix and Geoff as we always do with those two. Monday we just wandered and ended at having lunch at Rhodes in a Yum Cha place that was great. Tuesday being Anzac Day we were honoured guests at Breakfast Point Anzac Service.

Wally's grandfather served in the first world war and lost his life in Bullecourt, France on May 3, 1917. Unfortunately, his body was never recovered but his life has been commemorated by the Mortlake Gaslight Company, as this was his place of employment at the time of his enlistment. this place was where we took part in and emotional and wonderful day being the honoured guests of the organising committee for the Anzac service. Mortlake, or now Breakfast Point, is a beautiful spot on the Parramatta River that has been developed into an upmarket suburb of beautiful homes and apartments, very tasteful but with a village green that may have toxic waste below but that is not the point.

Gary, Wally's nephew, had found this gent, Greg Maunsell, who had set up and researched the information of the 45 Gaslight workers who had lost their lives in the war. As this was the 100 year anniversary, Greg requested a member of our family be part of the ceremony to commemorate Arthur William Jennings passing. We were very proud to be part of this day and so happy to be able to accept.

From 5:30 am we were greeted and made to feel very welcome part of the 400 strong crowd. We were seated at the front as we had the honour of laying the first wreath on behalf of all WW1 personnel that lost their lives and most importantly Wally's grandad. Greg had researched and found information that we did not know of and read the history of all the seven men who lost their lives at Bullecourt over a three day period. I, of course, lost the plot as we laid the wreath but we got through it all, both very emotional.

We were all fed breakfast by the Men's Shed group (400 bacon and egg rolls) and then we personally were taken for coffee prior to going to the Country Club for a presentation of the battles that were happening at the time of this huge loss of life for Australians in 1917. Lunch was then served and we were at all times looked after beautifully as very special guests. The whole day revolved around us which we found quite overwhelming but we got thru it and eventually returned back to the cats and Karina and Rory arriving home from their sojourn across the ditch.

Wednesday took us home to Bangalee with a stop off to see Mama and then a wild packup and changeover to leave again on Thursday with Gina, the van, for the far North coast of NSW.