“I’m still very choked up, it was very, very beautiful. The fact that it was by the water, like the beaches in Gallipoli, it added that extra emotional touch.The venue and the fact that the Fijian people made such a very special occasion of it is very moving. We thank the Fijian people so much!” These were the words of Elaine Martin, of Sydney, Australia a guest at the Outrigger on the Lagoon ∙ Fiji who was moved by the ANZAC Dawn Service at the resort this morning.
Other guests wept openly as the bugler from the Fiji Police Force played the last post at the lowering to half mast of the national flags of Australia, New Zealand and Fiji.
Every year the resort commemorates ANZAC day with a special dawn service at the beach which is followed by breakfast shared amongst guests and staff. This year’s service was attended by over 200 guests who lined the reef lawn in silence as the sun rose over Korotogo.
Bill Tompkins, the Australian Masters Hockey Coach said, “This morning is always hard for us, we remember all of our people that have gone before us. As a group when we’re away we always attend the service anywhere we go. And it just brings back so many memories especially for a lot of us that served in Vietnam and places like that and we’ve lost families in the various wars.”
Guests with heads bowed low and children sitting cross legged on the lawn huddled a little closer together as the Outrigger on the Lagoon ∙ Fiji staff choir sang hymns and the Isa Lei.
John Waring, of Sydney, Australia who is celebrating his 80th Birthday said he was born at the end of the 1st World War and remembers losing many family members during the war. “I find these services very sad and moving. And it is so sad that wars continue yet we don’t learn from our mistakes, we still send our young people to war. I’ve got three generations of my family here to celebrate my birthday with me. I think it was a very moving ceremony because it was so honest and Fijian. The service recognized the three countries Australia, New Zealand and Fiji who are now so close together”, Mr Waring said.
Outrigger on the Lagoon ∙ Fiji General Manager Peter Hopgood said today is a special day when we remember all those, whether service personnel or civilians, who suffered or continue to suffer through war, in particular those who served in the Australian and New Zealand defence forces on active service from the Boer War to the current conflict in Afghanistan.
“To my Fijian family we thank you for allowing the Australians and New Zealanders present here today, the opportunity to honour our service personnel. What a beautiful dawn service you have provided for us this morning!” Mr. Hopgood stated.
“How lucky are we, as residents of Australia and New Zealand, to have the luxury and freedom to be able to take our holidays in this beautiful country of yours,” Mr. Hopgood added.
Mr. Hopgood also encouraged the guests to continue to support Fiji and her peoples, “Let us pledge to support these wonderful people as they continue on their path to democratic elections in 2014. Let us commit to return to this beautiful country year after year for our holidays and continue to build on the friendship that our Fijian neighbours so willingly provide!”
You must be logged in to post a comment.