The 106th Anzac Day saw a return of a large crowd to the Mount Isa Cenotaph after the forced cancellation of public events in 2020.
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After the Mount Isa dawn service attracted almost two thousand people, hundreds more lined up every vantage point on West St as the traditional pre-main service parade took a new and shorter route to the Cenotaph.
Members of the 51 FNQ Regiment marched with local veterans, emergency services, community groups and schools before attending the service at 10am.
Father Mick Lowcock gave the blessing and told the story about his father who after he died last year aged over 100 a picture was found in his wallet of his best friend who died in World War II.
"It reminded me the effects of war were not only on family but on friends and mates," Fr Lowcock said.
Mayor Danielle Slade recalled the scene last year during lockdown when only a handful of people came to the Cenotaph at dawn.
"I brought a wreath at 6am, in the darkness, Jim Nuttall read the ode and Keith Cox played the Last Post, it was one of the most amazing Anzacs I've ever seen and the memory will stay with me forever," Cr Slade said.
Major Ben Edwards, 51 FNQR, said the Anzac spirit has transcended the original Anzacs who landed at Gallipoli in 1915.
"Australians are rightly proud of the Anzac tradition and the manner in which the Anzacs conducted themselves," Major Edwards said.
"Today Anzac Day has come to symbolise all men and women who serve the Australian armed forces, all those fight and make sacrifices for this country, all those who continue to uphold the Anzac values."
As in the dawn service RSL sub-branch president Jonathan Visser read the Ode and there was music from bugler Keith Cox, pipes from Mary-Jane Caldwell and the anthems were sung by Khovy Invathong (NZ) and Lenita Woodsbey (Australia).
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Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
