By Jesse Graham
THOUSANDS of residents have braved rainy weather this morning to attend Anzac Day dawn services around the Yarra Valley and Dandenongs.
Healesville RSL had a record attendance, with more than 2500 people showing up for the 5.30am dawn service on the centenary of the Gallipoli landings.
Commemorations officer Bob Gannaway presented the service before Healesville resident and ADF Captain Glenn Mitchell delivered The Ode to the massed crowd.
Gathered residents said a unanimous “Lest we forget”, before John Stanhope played The Last Post on the bugle.
Healesville High School principal George Perini delivered a moving speech on underage soldiers who enlisted in World War I, including one, James Charles Martin, who died on active duty before his 15th birthday.
As a memorial to the underage soldiers, scouts from Healesville First Scout Group formed a catafalque, with one scout standing at each corner of the cenotaph.
After community groups laid wreaths at the cenotaph, the crowd was invited to plant a poppy to pay their respects to fallen soldiers, before taking part in a gunfire breakfast.
The Healesville Anzac Day march will begin massing at 9.30am on the corner of Church Street and Nicholson Street (Maroondah Highway), before starting at 10am.
For the full story on the Yarra Ranges’ Anzac Day services, and more photos, see Tuesday’s edition of the Mail.
