For Glenn Defaveri, Kevin Podolski and Keith Stafford, the 102nd anniversary of the Anzac landing at Gallipoli provided a stark reminder that they are now taking their place as elders among those who have served for Australia at war.
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Gathering over early morning drinks at City Diggers after the Wollongong dawn service, the three Vietnam veterans shook their heads and blinked back tears as they reflected on a changing of the Anzac guard.
“It’s come on all of a sudden, you’re looking back and thinking we were the young ones looking at the second world war veterans who were old – now we’re the old ones,” Mr Defaveri said.
Organisers estimated about 2500 attended the 4.45am dawn service – the earliest in the Illawarra – at MacCabe Park.
Among them, was 95-year-old Ronald Sewell, of Farmborough Heights. The WWII veteran posed for a photo with his five-year-old great-grandson, Miller.
“It’s terrific to see so many people, to think that so many people still come after all these years,” he said.
The emergence of a new generation alongside an enduring Australian tradition was a common theme of Anzac Day 2017.
After the service, young veterans Annah Whittaker and Ryan Wilson, who met in Afghanistan, said they hoped people would take time out to recognise the important lessons of Anzac Day.
The pair, who left the Navy together and now run a restaurant together in Wollongong, have been pushing for support and awareness for young veterans dealing with PTSD and suicide.
“Anzac is 102 years old, but there’s still people serving in conflict today – so we need to remember that too,” Ms Whittaker said.
As head of reserves and youth in the Australian Defence Force, Rear Admiral Bruce Cafer – who attended the services in Wollongong – said the future of the Anzac movement was in good hands.
“I see younger men and women who are still very committed to what we do, they are still very loyal, proud, articulate and really resilient, so I’m very confident about the young generation ... who will take up the torch and carry it on our behalf into the future,” he said.
The Chief Executive of RSL NSW and Gerringong RSL sub-branch president Glenn Kolomeitz used this year’s commemoration to urge people to also consider the effects of war in more recent times.
Forty-one Australians died in the recent conflict in Afghanistan and 26 young veterans have died by suicide this year, Mr Kolomeitz said.
“Today’s a very commemorative day, but we must also make sure we adequately cater to the mental and physical health needs of our veterans and their families.”