Newborn babies in the arms of their defence force parents joined veterans as old as 90 to commemorate ANZAC day during a moving dawn service in El Arish yesterday.

Thousands flocked to events held throughout the Cassowary Coast to celebrate the 97th ANZAC anniversary, with games of Two Up played in watering holes after Gun Fire breakfasts, and poppies dropped from a plane into a huge crowd in Innisfail.

But the day was especially meaningful in El Arish – the historic soldier settlement town named after a key WW1 battleground in Egypt. During WW1 it was the site of a strategically important battle won by the Allies that enabled them to push forward into the Damascus.

All but one of the streets in town are named after well known leaders of WW1.

Locals yesterday celebrated the towns 90th birthday and commemorated the 80th ANZAC day event to be held in the town hall which was battered by cyclone Yasi last February.

A crowd of 300 joined returned servicemen, including 90 year-old WW2 veteran Arthur Sanderson, and 20 HMAS Cairns navy personal, marching to the town’s cenotaph for a dawn service. Wearing his service medals, and joined by his wife of 65 years Marj, Mr Sanderson reminisced about the years he served in the army, working on trucks in the jungles of Borneo and New Guinea. When he was discharged in May 1946 he started cane farming, joining former WW1 soldiers who lived in the around El Arish, starting his family who were all there to see him join the Anzac parade yesterday.

“To be honest I had a pretty easy time of it,’’ he said.
“Well I would call it easy compared to some.
“I managed to get through it all without any serious accidents but it was an unusual time in my life.
“I tell the kids about it if they ask.
“Today is an important day for me, a day to remember.
“I used to lead the march in past years but I am getting on now but I still make sure I am here – it is a day to remember the past and the people who paid the ultimate sacrifice for this country.’’

Community leaders including mayoral hopeful Wayne Kimberly and current Cassowary Coast Regional Councillor, Jennifer Downs paid tribute to the Anzac spirit, saying it was just as alive as ever.

“That mateship and courage are still evident today, especially in this region after cyclone Yasi”, Cr Downs said.

HMAS Cairns Ardent five crew members at the commemorations had just returned to the Far North on Sunday after an eight week operation near Christmas island. Some were young dads who brought their newborn babies to El Arish to share in the ANZAC event.

“For me, ANZAC day is about remembering the past and being with your Navy mates,” said one crewman Rowan Verheijen as he held his nine week old daughter Ava.

“It is not a day I would bypass and plan on making sure my daughter understands and cherishes what is all about too.

Natalie Dixon