Light up the dawn in your street on Anzac Day

Belinda Rayment and her children Kelsie and Harley, have been busy making milk bottle lanterns for their Innes Lake street as way way to pay their respects on April 25 to our ex-servicemen and women.

The lanterns will compliment driveway dawn services across the region which have been given the thumbs up by the Port Macquarie RSL Sub-branch as a positive and community-minded way to uphold the tradition of Anzac Day during COVID-19.

Belinda said Anzac Day is an important tradition for her family and they are all passionate about keeping the spirit alive on Saturday morning.

"We have organised a driveway gathering for our street," Belinda said.

"This year my kids and I have made lanterns (from recycled milk containers) for each house in our street and invited them all to come out on their driveways and light their candle and listen to The Last Post at 6am on Anzac morning.

"We live at the end of the cul de sac so we will be playing The Last Post on a speaker for everybody to hear."

The Rayments delivered the lanterns to each house on the weekend with a note explaining what is happening on Anzac morning.

"Feedback from neighbours we spoke to is that is a wonderful idea. They will look great in the dark at the end of each driveway on Anzac morning.

"I think this could really get momentum if people know about it."

Kelsie, 14 of Hastings Secondary College, and Harley, 11, of Tacking Point Public School, marched in the Anzac Day service with their school last year wearing their family medals.

"Mr grandfather is a returned veteran and Anzac Day is very special to us," Belinda said.

The driveway at dawn Anzac Day services will kick off at 6am in neighbours across the region.

Buglers and musicians are being encourage to play The Last Post in their streets as a mark of respect.

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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