TORONTO ANZAC DAY MARCH  2011   

For only the second time in the last five years the weather was fine in Toronto for our ANZAC Day Dawn Service and March, although it did rain later in the day as we helped to commemorate ANZAC Day at the Catalina Base at Rathmines.

While watching the Sydney Dawn Service and March on television we counted our blessings as the rain in that city was torrential and we thought of our fellow ex-servicemen and women who had to march in such a downpour.

As usual our day in Toronto started before five am with the Dawn Service Procession to the front of the Toronto Diggers Club where wreaths were laid and our bugler, Jonathon Smith, once again played The Last Post with   amazing clarity.

Then it was upstairs to the auditorium for the service itself, once again the club was packed to the rafters as the service got underway.  President Ron Mitcherson started proceedings with the prologue, while Salvation Army   Captain, David Twivey, gave a thoughtful oration on the theme of ANZAC.

At 1050hrs the March from The Boulevarde to Goffet Park was underway, with Marshal, Peter Keane, once again doing a fine job of marshalling the troops.  Vice–President Jon Handley followed the bus carrying our veterans who could no longer march, he was followed by the Toronto Brass Band in their normally excellent tones and our five person Flag Party made up of    cadets from 217 Army Cadet Unit.

Next came the official party of Fr. Ian Howarth and Member for Lake Macquarie as well as Mayor of the City of Lake Macquarie, Greg Piper.  Airmen from 11 Sqdn from RAAF Edinborough (SA) were next in the procession and they were followed by our own veterans and some descendants the remainder of 217 ACU and of course we were honoured once again by the       presence of Toronto RSL sub-Branch Women’s Auxiliary.

ANZAC Day in Toronto would never be complete without the presence of so many of the districts youth marching as Girl Guides, Boys Scouts or in their respective school groups, and it is always amazing to see how proudly they march.

As the marchers reached the round-about at the corner of Victory Parade and The Boulevarde, it was “eyes-right” for the salute which was taken from the deck of a World War II Jeep by Sqd Ldr, Roy Phillpott of 11 Sqdn,      President of Toronto RSL sub-Branch Ron Mitcherson and President of Toronto Diggers, Gordon Gardiner. The procession then moved off to Goffet Park for the ANZAC Service.

Once in Goffet Park, the service was underway with a welcome by Honorary Secretary, Paul Kelly and a prologue by Connie-Lee Dixon and Luke Blundell of Charlton Christian College. Taylah Rocteur and Daniel Hardy, School    Captains of Toronto High School, then gave a most stirring and awe-inspiring address on the meaning of ANZAC to them as young people.

Since we first introduced the oration by school leaders giving their thoughts on meaning of ANZAC some five years ago we have always been taken aback by the quality of their talks and the manner in which these young  people conduct themselves,  and 2011 was no exception.  Over those years we have rotated the talks between three High Schools of the district being, Toronto High, Charlton Christian College and St. Pauls.

As well as the Toronto Service, other commemorations were held on the day at Lake Macquarie Memorial Park at Ryhope at 9:00 am and at the Rathmines Community Hall at 3:00 pm in lieu of the Catalina Memorial due to the continuing rain in the afternoon .