anzac 2019

This legend stood Vigil along with his fellow navy cadets from 2.30am to 4.30am ANZAC eve at the Port Lincoln War Memorial. They then formed guard during the Dawn Service at 5.45am for a 6.15am start. We followed the cadets to the RSL along with the other cadet families for the gunfire breakfast. TS Flinders cadets then formed up to lead the morning march back to the Memorial for the second service.

As a cadet Mum I'm pretty darn proud of all of our Navy Cadets, but I'm especially proud of my cadet.

To support Sean we stayed in Lincoln at the Blue Seas Motel which is right next to the War Memorial. By the time Annie and I got there after netball training it was late so we only managed a couple of hours sleep before we were all up to support the cadets with their vigil.

As we've never attended a Vigil it was a totally new experience for us. Why were the cadets circling the monument? What the reason for the guards in the first place? What's the historical significance of the ceremony?
I googled the reason for the Youth Vigil.

The ANZAC Eve Youth Vigil Ceremony is a youth inspired activity that has become the first ceremony of remembrance of ANZAC Day.

With differing backgrounds and interests, young Australians representing a variety of service and community groups, conduct a formal ‘Holding Ground’ Ceremony (a night-long, guard of honor around the historic War Memorial on North Terrace) from 6.00 pm to 6.00 am between ANZAC Eve and ANZAC Morning.  In doing so, they have created their own ANZAC Day tradition. Just prior to dawn the youth guards step down and the Dawn Service follows.

The Anzac Eve Youth Vigil stems from the military tradition of ‘holding ground’ whereby a reconnaissance patrol would find and hold strategic position in preparation for the arrival of their army. This would often involve an all-night vigil, keeping awake on watch, alert that the area of battle is secured against threat.

It was a pleasantly calm night for the vigil (thank goodness) so it was great to see the kids do what they do. I had organised with McDonalds to pick up a bunch of hot chocolates for the kids to have while they were rotated off for their break. That was very welcomed by the kids.

By the time we finished duty after the morning service we were all pretty shattered and both Annie and Sean slept the way home. And we slept the afternoon away.