ANZAC Day march- 2023
ANZAC Day march- 2022
ANZAC Day march- 2021
At the Shrine of Remembrance
The Rising Sun Hotel - after the march
ANZAC Day 2021 - around the traps
ANZAC Day - 2020
ANZAC Day 2020 presented a challenge for the nation, on how to commemorate the occasion. This was done in many ways in many places including Latrobe Retirement Village in Reservoir where Rob Toy lives where they held their own service. This gave a chance for our banner to be displayed once again, albeit to a smaller audience than usual.
A full report on the RAACA Vic member's involvement can be found in the June 2020 issue of Track. Follow this link to it on this website.
A full report on the RAACA Vic member's involvement can be found in the June 2020 issue of Track. Follow this link to it on this website.
Below is a photo of John Mansfield playing the Last Post at the MCG. Many of you will know John from various commemoration services he has attended over the years including the RAACA (Vic) Birthday service last February.
IT HAD always been a dream of John Mansfield to play the Last Post at the MCG on Anzac Day.
And although Mansfield realised that lifelong ambition this week in front of an empty stadium, instead of the 90,000 silent Collingwood and Essendon supporters that usually fill the ground for the traditional Anzac Day encounter, it was still a goal achieved.
Congratulations John and thankyou for your service.
And although Mansfield realised that lifelong ambition this week in front of an empty stadium, instead of the 90,000 silent Collingwood and Essendon supporters that usually fill the ground for the traditional Anzac Day encounter, it was still a goal achieved.
Congratulations John and thankyou for your service.
ANZAC Day 2020 was different for all of us but became a chance to see a different side of our neighbours and friends, like Rocky Gerzina who is a regular guest at our annual Cambrai dinner. He appeared on the Chanel 7 News on ANZAC Day with the following report.
“I’m really staggered by it all - I guess the women in the family can keep secrets,” he said.
Initially Rocky thought he would just be joining his family standing in the driveway like so many other Australians today.
Instead, he was greeted with a garden filled with poppies, candles and their own version of an eternal flame.
“It brought me back to my youth in Europe - I came out here as a kid after the Second World War.
“Having gone through the atrocities of the Second World War...we came to Australia for peace.
“But within two years we were naturalised, we became Australians, I got called up for national service and I ended up doing 21 years in the Regular Army, served in Malaysia twice and Vietnam for a year.”
Traditionally, Rocky and his mate would go for a drink, but this year they’ll be staying at home with a homemade port.
One thing that remains despite the pandemic, is the Anzac spirit.
Initially Rocky thought he would just be joining his family standing in the driveway like so many other Australians today.
Instead, he was greeted with a garden filled with poppies, candles and their own version of an eternal flame.
“It brought me back to my youth in Europe - I came out here as a kid after the Second World War.
“Having gone through the atrocities of the Second World War...we came to Australia for peace.
“But within two years we were naturalised, we became Australians, I got called up for national service and I ended up doing 21 years in the Regular Army, served in Malaysia twice and Vietnam for a year.”
Traditionally, Rocky and his mate would go for a drink, but this year they’ll be staying at home with a homemade port.
One thing that remains despite the pandemic, is the Anzac spirit.
ANZAC Day March - 2019
ANZAC Day 2019 Despite the glorious weather on 25 April, our numbers were down at the main march in the city, however, I know that many of our members (including yours truly) attend their own RSL sub branch activities. Spotted at the march were Rob Toy, Basil Tiligadis, Greg Sheppard, Rod Westgarth, Ray Harmes and Immediate Past President Daryl Pinner, OAM who was acting as a Marshall on the day. As always, we were well supported in banner carrying duties by a number of School Cadets including: Xiran Wong, Aaryan Bhatim, Charlie Ford, Kieran Ng, John Li, Tin Nguyen and Matthew Lyons. They were under the command of Major (AAC) David Huysing. Our sincere gratitude was expressed for their assistance. After the march whilst on their way to the Rising Sun Hotel in South Melbourne; Pat O’Hanlon and Peter Sampson, President and Secretary respectively of the 4/19 PWLH Association surprised our own Daryl Pinner with the presentation of Honorary Life Membership of their association. A well-deserved recognition for his many years service to that group.