ANZAC DAY 2025: I had the honour of being invited by Darcy Elbourne, President of the Taree RSL Sub-Branch to take part in the ANZAC Day Parade, driving my Model T down the heart of Victoria Street, Taree.

Riding alongside me was 98-year-old WWII veteran Dulcie Balderston, who enlisted in the Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force at just 18, on the 14th December, 1944 - an incredible legacy of service for which we are truly grateful. Dulcie was discharged on 12th February, 1946.

We were accompanied by a beautifully preserved 1917 Studebaker, owned by Brian Kelleher of Taree Historic Motor Club and the National Motorcycle Museum at Nabiac, while two WWII-era Willy’s Jeeps led the procession. The Jeeps set the pace, followed by the Studebaker, then my Model T, with the marching band providing a rousing soundtrack just behind us.

Taree RSL Sub-Branch President, Darcy Elbourne then presented Dulcie - a cherished figure in both the RSL and wider community - with a Commemorative Medallion, celebrating 75 years since the end of the Second World War.

The streets were lined with hundreds of locals, all gathered along Victoria Street to support and applaud the parade, which concluded at Fotheringham Park with a moving commemorative service beside the memorial clock tower.

Adding a special touch to the event, local musician Brianna Xuereb performed a heartfelt version of Lee Kernaghan’s “I Will Always Be for You”, a tribute song dedicated to Afghanistan veterans and Australia's younger servicemen and women.

Sadly, just four days after ANZAC Day, and just a week short of her 99th birthday, Dulcie Balderston passed away peacefully. My sincerest condolences to her family, it was indeed an honour to chauffeur Dulcie in what became her very last ANZAC Parade, and an even bigger honour to have met her.

Thank you for your service Dulcie, may you rest in peace.
 

For my Global readers - a description of ANZAC Day...

ANZAC Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, observed annually on April 25. It honours the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought and died in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. The day originally commemorated the landing of ANZAC troops at Gallipoli, Turkey, on April 25, 1915, during World War I, which became a defining moment in both nations' histories.

Though the Gallipoli campaign itself ended in a heavy defeat, the courage, spirit, and sacrifice of the soldiers were seen as a unifying and nation-building moment for both Australia and New Zealand. Over time, ANZAC Day has expanded to honour all military personnel who have served and died in various conflicts, not just Gallipoli or WWI.

Key aspects of ANZAC Day include:

• Dawn Services: These early morning ceremonies are held in towns and cities across both countries, often at war memorials. The dawn service is a tribute to the timing of the Gallipoli landing and symbolizes remembrance in the quiet of morning.

• The Last Post: This bugle call is played at dawn services and other ceremonies to signify that the fallen are being honoured.

• Wreath Laying: People, including military personnel, families, and public officials, lay wreaths of flowers at war memorials as a sign of respect and remembrance.

• The ANZAC Spirit: The day also celebrates the enduring values associated with the ANZACs, such as mateship, courage, and sacrifice.

ANZAC Day is a solemn occasion, but it also serves to strengthen national identity, with many people attending ceremonies or participating in events like marches or veterans’ reunions.