HONOURING ANZAC DAY TRADITIONS, Part 5

The Dawn Service

6 Wing Air Force Cadets join the Dawn Service

Throughout South Australia and western Victoria yesterday, Air Force Cadets took part in a number of Anzac Day Marches and Dawn Services.

CAPTION: Air Force Cadets of No 603 Squadron at the Loxton Dawn Service: Cadet Corporal Owen Parry (Guard Commander), with Cadet Ashleigh Minnis on duty at the Cenotaph. Also on duty was Cadet Isaac Edwards (not in frame). 603 Sqn photo.

In many localities, the activity actually began the night before with an overnight Vigil [story here], in which cadets and other volunteer youth mounted a formal ‘Holding Ground’ ceremony around a War Memorial continuously throughout the night from sunset untill dawn – from 6pm on Anzac Eve until the start of the Dawn Service on 25 April.

Just before dawn, the youth guard yielded to a formal uniformed Catafalque Party, and the Dawn Service followed.

In some localities this was followed by an Anzac Commemorative March, with a main service later in the morning.

6 Wing Public Affairs & Communication Officer, Pilot Officer (AAFC) Paul Rosenzweig said, “Australian Defence Force Cadets and similar youth organisations are given a special privilege in the various Anzac Day Commemorative activities”.

The list of Anzac Day activities in which cadets participated is quite extensive.

6 Wing’s contribution to the overnight Youth Vigil at the State War Memorial on North Terrace in Adelaide remained in place until yielding to the Catafalque Party provided by the 10th/27th Battalion, Royal South Australian Regiment.

During the RSL Anzac Day March in Adelaide, some Cadets carried signage and banners for the veteran groups, while others marched as the No 6 (City of Adelaide) Wing contingent.

No 609 Squadron participated in the City of Marion Youth Vigil, and No 617 Squadron provided a Catafalque Party for the Dawn Service at the War Veterans’ Home in Myrtle Bank, and a flag party at Unley Memorial Gardens.

South of Adelaide, No 619 (City of Onkaparinga) Squadron conducted an overnight Youth Vigil at the Morphett Vale Eternal Flame Monument, and supported the McLaren Vale RSL with their Dawn Service.

No 605 (City of Onkaparinga) Squadron mounted three Catafalque Parties (at Morphett Vale, Coromandel Valley and TPI House in Richmond) as well as performing representational and wreath-laying duties at the Port Noarlunga/Christies Beach RSL Service.

In the Adelaide Hills, No 602 Squadron participated in commemorative events at the Mount Pleasant Memorial and in Echunga.

In the Riverland, No 603 Squadron, in conjunction with 410 Army Cadet Unit, participated in the Loxton and Renmark Dawn Services. After, the squadron marched at Renmark and mounted a combined Catafalque Party for the Morning Service, and joined the Loxton RSL for a dinner. The squadron also sent a small detachment to Canberra.

Together with Gawler Scouts and students from Xavier Catholic School, No 608 (Town of Gawler) Squadron participated in the Anzac Eve Youth Vigil in Gawler [story here]. The squadron then mounted a Catafalque Party and Honour Guard for the Dawn Service at Pioneer Park.

No 612 Squadron participated in the Mount Gambier Anzac Day march, and joined the service at Vansittart Park, and No 614 Squadron provided a Catafalque Party for the Dawn Service in Jamestown.

No 620 Squadron provided a Catafalque Party for the Kadina Anzac Day services. The Cadets also participated at Port Broughton.

No 622 Squadron mounted a Catafalque Party for the Mannum RSL Dawn Service, while other cadets attended the Murray Bridge Dawn Service together with cadets from 45 Army Cadet Unit.

In Victoria, No 623 Squadron from Mildura led the March and provided Catafalque Parties in Irymple and Wentworth, and cadets and staff participated in the Anzac March in Mildura.

The community can be rightly proud that practically every Air Force Cadet that was available throughout Mildura and SA took part in some way in an Anzac Day activity.

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