Youth key to tradition

Engaging younger generations with the story of the Anzacs is an important way to ensure their memory lives on, according to Dunsborough Anzac Day co-organiser Philip Gifford.

The Dunsborough Anzac Day service will be held at the foreshore, with local school students to speak at the event.

Dunsborough Primary School students Matilda Thomson and Jaime McDonald will be speaking about their grandfathers, who served in both world wars.

“We both had grandfathers who fought in World War I and World War II and we are going to talk about how they got there and what they went through,” Matilda said.

Jaime said she believed it was important for people to reflect and recognise the sacrifice servicemen and women had made.

“I think it is important to remember what these people went through and it is very important we don’t forget,” she said.

“We are in such a beautiful country and the reason why is because they helped fight for us.”

Mr Gifford said linking up the generations was an important aspect of the service.

“It is a great opportunity for the children to bridge that generation gap,” he said. “They get to learn from the older generations about what happening during Anzac Day and they pick it up and carry it over to the future generations.”

Mr Gifford said the service was expected to draw a crowd of more than 1500 people.

“It is the biggest day for Dunsborough to show their heartbeat for Australia together in our town and people can show they do still remember,” he said.

This year the 10th Light Horse Bunbury Troop re-enactment troop will be attending the event, which will also help mark the centenary of the Battle of Beersheba.

The Dunsborough Anzac Day service will be held at the Dunsborough foreshore from 11am, with a lunch at the Dunsborough and Districts Country Club at 12.15pm which is open to everyone.

Those who wish to march before the service will assemble at Lions Park at 10.30am and travel down Dunn Bay Road to the foreshore.