AN Anzac Day service was held at the Dunwich State School on Friday, April 24, with all students from Prep to Year 6.
Special guests included Aunty Margaret Iselin from the Council of Elders, Aunty Margaret Kucirek from The Aboriginal and Islanders Housing Co-operative, Police Sgt Peter Twort, Geoff Moore from the Historical Museum, Norm Saunders from the Dunwich RSL and Pat Coomber, who is the grand niece of "Jack" Simpson Kirkpatrick Gallipoli veteran of Simpson's Donkey fame.
After the "Welcome to Country" from Aunty Margaret, principal Jenny Wilson introduced the school captains who chaired the service.
Mr Moore read out the names of WWI soldiers from the Island, mentioning those who had had attended the Dunwich school.
Mrs Coomber gave a brief biography of Jack Simpson, WWI stretcher bearer at Gallipoli, who won fame by using a donkey he found on the beach to carry injured soldiers back to safety.
He is credited in saving over 300 mens' lives and was the recipient of a bravery award.
After the laying of the wreaths that each class had made, Mr Saunders, WWII veteran gave the Ode; the Last Post and Reveille and the school choral group led the national anthem.
The island's Dawn Service was attended by about 600 people or approximately 20 per cent of the island's residents.
They were greeted at the opening by a recording of what the
landing on the beach would have sounded like - i.e. splashing, yelling, gunfire and grenade explosions, the recording supplied by the Canberra War Memorial.
Reverend Alan Shephard recited the Lord's Prayer, Paul Keating's tribute to "The Unknown Soldier" was read by Howard Bevin, followed by The Ode, a minute's silence, Reveille, and a wreath laying ceremony.
The parade was dismissed and invited for the traditional Gunfire Breakfast at the Dunwich RSL Club.
The 11am service was also well attended with more than 100 in the parade, the salute taken by Mr Saunders.
Cheryl Rodgers read out the names of the WWI island volunteers followed by a keynote address by Lt. Col. Bill Giles who compared the difficulties endured by the Gallipoli troops with those from WW2, Vietnam, and the Middle East conflicts of this century.
Reverend Alan Shephard said prayers and a short address, during which the attendees were treated to a flyover by the island's own Straddie Aero Club.
After the Last Post and a minute of silence, The Ode, Reveille, and the laying of the wreaths, the national anthem was led by the Straddie Singers, followed by the National Anthem of New Zealand sung in both English and Mauri.