Gundy marches for legendary ANZACS

HUNDREDS gathered outside the Linga Longa Inn for the Gundy ANZAC Day March today, led by Jason Teuma from the 12th Light Horse Regiment.

March and ceremony footage and photo gallery below.

The Scone RSL Pipes and Drums set the tone as they marched to the Soldiers’ Memorial Hall on Duke Street, followed by participants from Belltrees Public School, Moonan Flat Public School, St Mary’s Primary School, Scone Public School, Scone Grammar School, St Joseph’s High School, Scouts and Girl Guides.

The community was then able to attend an outdoor ANZAC Ceremony, the Autumn sun warming the many faces in the crowd.

Katherine Meier captivated the audience with tales of her experience trekking the Kokoda Trail Campaign in Papua New Guinea.

“Here we were, trekking through the jungle with a guy who had done the trail 90 times, with a satellite phone strapped to his hip, a gully stocked first aid kit in his backpack and about 30 support staff that were carrying out tents, food and supplies,” Ms Meier said.

“All the times we were joking and laughing, sharing stories about our lives back in Australia, complaining about blisters, or how bad we smelt after the sixth day in the same clothes, wondering what canned stew we would be fed that night,” she said.

“It kept haunting me that these soldiers didn’t know whether they would survive to return to their lives in Australia. Their boots and clothing were not designed for trekking through the mud in stifling humidity. they did not know whether the supply plane would be able to bring them ammunition to keep surviving, let alone food. And if food did actually get dropped, trying to find it in the jungle was a battle in itself,” she said.

“Under the rainforest canopy, on top of the mountain, it is completely bare. There stands a number of sticks with red poppies, representing a solider that had been buried there after the battle of Brigade hill . . . it is very hard to explain the feeling that this place gave me, it sent a shiver down my spine and it really is one of the most spiritual places I have ever visited.

“Port Moresby Australian War Cemetery. This place was a highlight because of the beauty and grace in which is was presented to honour the fallen but it was also an extreme low light, displaying the ugliness of war. This is the largest burial ground of only Australian soldiers overseas. It was at this place that I cracked, here I sobbed.

“The sheer reality that I was surrounded by young men that had their lives cut short for our country . . . it was a fitting ending to my last ten days as i thought I had endured hell over the trail, however it was nothing compared to what these soldiers had done and I will be forever grateful to these men,” said Ms Meier.

Many laid wreaths along the fence line, before the Last Post filled the air followed by a moments silence as the crowd remembered those who had lost their lives in service.

“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; 
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. 
At the going down of the sun and in the morning 
We will remember them.”