Locals are being urged not to forget the spirit of ANZAC Day this year despite official services and marches being cancelled.
Penrith RSL Sub-branch Secretary, Maureen Gildart said it is a sad time for the board and their members but urged the community to still pause, commemorate and remember on April 25.
“Everyone that I’ve spoken to is really upset it can’t go ahead, for a lot of them it will be their last ANZAC day,” she said.
Ms Gildart suggested residents watch the televised ceremony and have a moment of silence, whilst playing the last post on their phone.
For those lucky to live close enough, some members of the Hawkesbury District Concert Band who live throughout the Penrith LGA will be playing The Last Post live at 6am on their driveways.
Traditionally the band play on ANZAC Day at services locally, as well as in the Sydney city.
Band leader and Glenmore Park resident Judy Gray said it’s the least they can do to pay their respects to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
“We’ve played at these services for over 30 years, so when we found out that we couldn’t do that this year, we decided that we would instead stand at the end of our driveways and play The Last Post,” she said.
“We’re all doing it from our homes, one of our members Susan Guillaumier will be doing it in Londonderry, I’ll be doing it in my street and another member is doing it in North Richmond.”
Ms Gray, like many, has a close connection to the day having had family members serve in the past.
“We just want to acknowledge how important it still is for us and that these people are remembered and commemorated,” she said.
“Most people have some connection with veteran personnel, for those who served in the war or in the Defence Force.”
A service at the Australian War Memorial will be televised on the ABC on Saturday, April 25 with residents encouraged to make an effort to remember those men and women who have served our country.
Nicola Barton
A graduate of Western Sydney University, Nicola Barton is a news journalist with the Western Weekender, primarily covering crime and politics.