NSW: Thousands overflow at Martin Place for dawn service = 2

AAP General News (Australia)
04-25-2006
NSW: Thousands overflow at Martin Place for dawn service = 2

Vice Air Marshall Quaife's address was followed by a wreath laying ceremony involving
federal Opposition Leader Kim Beazley, Defence Minister Brendan Nelson and NSW Premier
Morris Iemma.

Lieutenant-Governor James Spigelman represented NSW Governor Marie Bashir, who is
in Canberra deputising for Governor General Major General Michael Jeffery.

Many of the crowd who arrived well before the service's starting time of 4.30am (AEST)
were met with cool conditions, but the rain that was forecast stayed away.

Most were well rugged up but some braved the early morning chill to make their patriotic
statements in Australian rugby league and union jerseys.

Terry Coffey, from Campbelltown, arrived at Martin Place at 3am (AEST) with his two
boys Matthew, 15 and Jason, 11, to keep a family tradition going.

"We've been coming in for the past five to ten years, I first came in with my dad who
served in New Guinea and the boys then wanted to come in," he said.

It's great, you can't get to where you are going if you don't know where you've been."

Korean War veteran Allan Collins made this morning his first dawn service ceremony
since 1946, when Victoria Cross recipient Sergeant Thomas Derrick played the last post
from the balcony of a nearby bank building.

"I've come today because it might be the last one, it has been way too long, I can't
answer why I haven't been here in the past," Mr Collins said.

"I see a lot of young men and women here, and there is a lot of criticism of young
people today, but they are no different to us - in times of trial they would go."

AAP nr/ao

KEYWORD: ANZAC DAWN NSW LEAD 2 SYDNEY

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