Canberra’s Tribute To Anzac Landings

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30733, 24 April 1965, Page 5

Canberra’s Tribute To Anzac Landings

(Specially written for “The Press”)

MAGNIFICENT parade has been completed in Canberra for the ceremonies marking the fiftieth anniversary of the Anzac landings at Gallipoli tomorrow.

The parade, which is named after Anzac, is three-quarters of a mile long, 200 yards wide and panelled in red metal and law ns. Australian bluegums and New Zealand shrubs have been used as borders.

It is enough to compel admiration, but in Canberra it has been given special significance. Its function is to link the National Wai- Memorial at its head with the centre of Australian Government.

The simplest way of explaining is to say that most important buildings in Canberra are in a triangle delineated by the three main city thoroughfares. The war memorial is sited directly opposite the Houses of Parliament, but beyond the base of the triangle. In time its present privileged outlook would have been destroyed by development between itself and Parliament buildings. Now all that separates the two are the parade and a quarter-mile stretch of lake in front of Parliament buildings. The two are built on Canberra’s main land axis and the complementary symbols of sacrifice and parliamentary government are self evident.

The completion of the parade has been hurried along for the 50th anniversary ceremonies.

The national commemoration in Canberra will feature a big parade by service-

men and returned servicemen. Anzac parade will be officially opened by the Duke of Gloucester.

The changes since the Duke finished a term as GovernorGeneral of Australia in 1947 are enormous and almost innumerable; but they are nothing compared with which awaits Major Douglas Isaac Charles Bryan, of Palmerston North, a former Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod in the New Zealand Parliament.

Major Bryan was a member of the first class to graduate from the Royal Military College, Duntroon, in Canberra. Major Bryan will revisit Duntroon during the jubilee celebrations and that, of course, he will be made welcome as a guest there.

Major Bryan, now 72, probably knows that the college still turns out gentlemen who may or may not be able to ride a cavalry charger if one was available. But the graduate of today leaves with everything but his bachelor’s gown and soon the college will be able to confer that too. From graduation in 1914 a raw Lieutenant Bryan and 34 classmates were catapulted into the First World War. Five died at Gallipoli. When he left Canberra, whatever settlement there was, apart from the college, would probably not have existed but for the presence of the quiet Molonglo River. Now the river has been damm-

ed up to form a lake named after the city’s designer, Walter Burley Griffin. The suburbs group around the lake support 80,000 people.

Major Bryan will be on more familiar ground at the Federal Parliament. He has expressed the wish to “swap yarns” with the Black Rod in Canberra. But even when he gets over nostalgic memories there should be plenty to interest him.