As the centenary of World War I draws to a close, organisers of West Wallsend’s Anzac Day service believe the milestone anniversary has lit a spark that will help keep commemorations strong in communities across the nation.
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The town’s Anzac Day service has had a resurgence in the past six years, organisers say, after four decades without a commemorative event on April 25.
The area around West Wallsend’s war memorial – which features a statue of a Digger affectionately known as Old Snowy – was packed on Wednesday morning despite the rain, as people gathered to march, lay a wreath and pay their respect.
Bob Skelton – a bush poet known around town as The Minmi Magster – recited a piece he had written as a nod to the iconic Australian Army slouch hat.
“They’ve been worn with passion and pride/ All over this troubled world/ Wherever our Aussie flag/ Has proudly been unfurled,” he read.
Retired Army Reserve Major John Doig is the junior vice president of West Wallsend Workers Club, which organised and hosted the commemoration.
Read more: How the Hunter marked Anzac Day 2018
He said the Anzac Day service at West Wallsend had grown in recent years, “resurrected after having ceased for some time”.
“Country-wide I think there’s been a big resurgence,” he said.
“I think the emphasis placed in the last four years has sowed the seed in the community and I think the fire has been lit.
“We do need to keep that going.”