ANZAC DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 103, 4 May 1933, Page 10

ANZAC DAY

GROWING SIGNIFICANCE

AUSTRALIAN DEMONSTRATIONS

(From "Tho Post's" Ropresentat.we.) I SYDNEY, April 27. With the passing of the years the commemoration of Anza« Day v in Australia takes on a greater significance. Last year's ceremonies were remarkable , for their reverence, their poignancy. This year, in all centres, records were broken. The march of returned men, which is a feature in every city, attracted more Diggers this year than ever before. • The- faces may have borne more marks of age, more signs of trials,, but tho spirit was as true as,ever; Above all else was the memory of thoso who sacrificed their lives, on Anzac Beach, in .Flanders, or in any of the other theatres of war. Throughout Australia Anzac-Day is a' public holiday, and the morning is given over to solemn services, more particularly at the Cenotaphs. - It was a grey day in Sydney, with a steady rain up till "noon,' but this did not deter tho crowds from ■ paying. their .homage to the dead. By far the most impressive service was that held in the Cenotaph in Martin Place, in the heart of the,city, at the break of dawn. So great was the interest taken in' this particular ceremony that the transport officials provided special trains and trams from the suburbs, and the earlycomers had taken up their positions three hours before tho bugler announced the breaking of the dawn. The Governor (Sir Philip Game), tho Premier (Mr. Stevens),, and the Federal Minister of Health (Mr. Marr). lead the, procession of the Australian Legion,' and the Legion's wreath was placed on the Cenotaph by tho Governor. Tho 8000 people "present stood, bareheaded, hi complete silenco for two minutes, and then a solemn prayer was offered. The great, gathering repeated tho Lord's Prayer, and the sileneo of the city was broken by the singing of "Lead, Kindly Light." ' • As the city stirred ,under leadon skies crowds visited the Cenotaph, which bofore very long was surrounded by a mountain of. flowers.' Thousands of returned men took part in tho march through the city to the Domain, whero another impressive service was held. Ten thousand.people prayed-and sang hymns, but they did not forget to cheer for the maimed and -the blind who took their place with their comrades on this day of days. One blind man was deprived of his sight tho instant he set foot on Anzac, and he was led through the streets by his twin sons, now aged 16. With the others he had a smile. The tramp, tramp through the city must have recalled memories—and he smiled. Ho was the typical Anzac spirit. ' . ■ -; ■ Even if some of the sneakers on this memorable occasidn forgot New Zealand's association with the name .of 'Anzac, the Dominion was well represented by a group which occupied a proud place in tho procession. While the memory, of Anzac lives, New Zealand's share in the gallant war deeds can never be forgotten.