Over 500 ex-servicemen and women and serving naval personnel from HMAS Cairns and local resident families and schools gathered at the ANZAC Memorial to honour the 95th Anniversary ANZAC Observance Day at the annual dawn service before marching down to the Mossman RSL for the Servicemen's Breakfast.

Port Douglas then continued the annual ANZAC Day Observance at 10.30am in ANZAC Park in Port Douglas.  The 500 strong parade included a 94 yr old digger, who we were told, just two years ago paraded on horseback at the Townsville parade. 

WATCH VIDEO OF MARCH ADJACENT -->  

The Port Douglas march past included ex-servicemen, serving naval personnel from HMAS Cairns, resident families with their children and many family members proudly wearing their loved ones medals. 

The march gathered in ANZAC Park joined by many other residents.  Several speakers including Cairns Clr Julia Leu, President of the RSL, Mr Geofrey Hart-Davies and Captain G.Welham AM RAN (Ret) honoured the fallen ANZACs to ensure their sacrifices and courage will never be forgotten whether it was from Gallipolli, WWII, Vietnam or more recent conflicts for which our freedom has been protected by their valour. 

There then followed a minutes silence after which Ms Madelyn Stollery, a student from Mossman High School played The Last Post and Reveille as she had done at the dawn service in Mossman to bring proceedings to a close.

The local associations and schools showed their support, paying their respects at both events by taking their turn in laying wreaths at the respective ANZAC Memorials.

Editors Comments: It is a wonderful and glorious feeling to know that the families and schools of the local regions right across Australia are as determined as the local ex-servicemen and their families to maintain the vital commemoration  of ANZAC Day in the respect and honour of remembrance and sincere gratitude to those that gave their lives to keep us free....We shall not forget.