YOUNG leaders from schools across Port Macquarie-Hastings have come together to keep the Anzac spirit alive.
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School captains and vice-captains from the nine Hastings secondary schools have united during isolation to to share a message with their peers and their community on coming together to maintain the great tradition of honouring ex-servicemen and women on Anzac Day.
The Hastings secondary student leaders want all students in the Hastings who would normally participate in the Anzac Day services to wear their school uniforms and join in the 2020 Driveway Anzac tribute at 6am.
"We have battled bushfires, floods and now coronavirus. It won't stop us from supporting our Anzacs this Anzac Day," they said.
"We encourage all students, parents and teachers to join us in standing in solidarity."
Brass players who know The Last Post are also encouraged to play it in their own driveways on the morning with the support of their neighbours.
Meanwhile, the bugler for Port Macquarie' Anzac Day services, Amy Corrigan, is also pushing for local musicians to play The Last Post from their driveways at dawn on Saturday.
The music teacher, musical director and vice president of Port Macquarie-Hastings Municipal Band plays each dawn and morning service on April 25 in Port Macquarie.
"Because Anzac Day services have been cancelled, there has been a bit of a online movement that has been picked up around the country," she said.
"The plan would see musicians playing The Last Post on their driveways at 6am. There are other thoughts around duplicating it at 10am too.
"My own neighbourhood are super happy with the whole idea."
Amy held an online Zoom workshop on April 18 to help local musos fine tune The Last Post and Reveille (Rouse).
Normally the veterans would go to the Dawn Service if they were able, attend the march, go back to the club, have a couple of rums and swap a few stories, and maybe a few lies.
- Greg Laird
Port Macquarie RSL Sub-branch president Greg Laird said the Anzac Day driveway campaign is the perfect way to honour to those who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom.
Port Macquarie has the largest membership in the country area for RSL sub-branches and still has 20 World War II veterans among its ranks.
"Normally the veterans would go to the Dawn Service if they were able, attend the march, go back to the club, have a couple of rums and swap a few stories, and maybe a few lies," Mr Laird said.
He said the Sub-branch supported the concept of people standing at the end of their driveways or on their balconies to pay their respects at the appropriate time.
"I think it is a wonderful and lovely way to honour Anzac Day. The driveway or verandah vigil is just a fantastic concept.
"We would certainly urge people to support the idea."
Send us your photos/video on Anzac Day?
While we can't all be together this Anzac Day, we want to know how you've commemorated this important day across Port Macquarie-Hastings. Send us photos/video form your driveways and we will include them in a gallery to share with our readers. Email: tracey.fairhurst@austcommunitymedia.com.au
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