Deloraine Primary School pupils Bella and Nicholas Alderson marched in front of a very special guest at their town’s Anzac Day ceremony.
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Their godmother, Australian Navy leading seaman and marine technician Olivia Gerrard, flew back to her hometown to watch the siblings march in their first parade.
Four-year old Bella wore her great-great-grandfather's medals and said they were very special. While Nicholas, 6, wore his great-grandfather’s.
Now based in Sydney, LS Gerrard said it was exciting to be able to watch her godchildren march.
“I came home to watch them march. It was beautiful and they did a great job,” she said.
The trio were joined by hundreds at Deloraine’s morning service, where Tasmania Governor Kate Warner was the guest speaker.
Her Excellency thanked the community for supporting the Anzacs.
“Anzac Day in Deloraine comes together each year through community inclusion ... You all played a vital role in making Anzac Day possible,” she said.
Since being Governor, Her Excellency has delivered a speech away from Hobart only twice. Her first in 2016 at Evandale, and at Deloraine.
Deloraine RSL secretary Shirley Howe said the speech was a highlight.
“It all went wonderfully well. We’re happy with the turnout – there was more than 1000,” she said.
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At Westbury, more than 350 people attended the dawn service, the town’s RSL president Bob Sackley said.
“It was far bigger than normal. We concentrate on local flavour and pick a couple of names off our honour board,” he said.
“Maybe it’s the local flavour that brought people out, or maybe it was the breakfast because that was spectacular.
“They catered for 200 at breakfast and served more than 300. We had cues out the door, it was unbelievable.”
At the service, 85-year-old bagpiper Garry Murray played at his 67th Anzac Day service, Mr Sackley said.
The service’s MC was Jim Griffin.
“He is the son of Major Griffin who was a Light Horseman in World War I. He was born when his father was 60-something and he’s 60-something now so that was more than 120 years of history.” Mr Sackley said.
“It’s a story that no one else in the country could probably match.”